Methods for in vitro diagnosis of type I allergy comprises the steps of contacting an immunoglobulin-containing body fluid sample from a patient suspected of having type I allergy with a variant or fragment of the mature protein, amino acids 25-260, of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, which variant or fragment shares epitopes for antibodies with the mature protein, amino acids 25-260, of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; and detecting the presence, in the sample, of IgE antibodies specifically binding to the variant or fragment. The presence of such IgE antibodies specifically binding to the variant or fragment is indicative of a type I allergy in the patient.