Allergen-Specific IgE Blood Test
Reviewed
This test measures immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in your blood to help find out if you have a food allergy.
Preparation and collection
You may need to stop taking certain medicines and/or supplements before the test. Follow your provider's instructions.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- This test cannot confirm a food allergy on its own.
- The level of IgE does not predict how severe an allergic reaction may be.
- False positives (high IgE without allergy) and false negatives (normal IgE despite allergy) can occur.
What to do next
If a food allergy is confirmed, you will need to avoid the trigger food. Your allergist will provide a management plan, including how to handle mild reactions and when to use an epinephrine autoinjector for severe reactions.
Evidence source
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Allergen-Specific IgE Blood Test