Biomarker: F260-IgE Broccoli

Overview

F260-IgE Broccoli measures immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in blood that specifically bind to broccoli allergens. IgE is involved in immediate-type allergic reactions, including symptoms affecting the skin, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, or cardiovascular system. A detectable or elevated result indicates sensitization to broccoli but does not, by itself, confirm a clinical broccoli allergy or predict reaction severity. The test is clinically useful as an adjunct to a compatible medical history when evaluating suspected IgE-mediated food allergy.

Clinical Use Cases

Assess sensitization to broccoli in a patient with symptoms occurring after broccoli ingestion.
Support evaluation of suspected IgE-mediated food allergy alongside medical history and physical examination.
Help guide specialist decisions about dietary avoidance, additional testing, or a medically supervised oral food challenge.
Provide an alternative to skin-prick testing when skin testing is unsuitable, including in some patients with extensive dermatitis or those who cannot discontinue antihistamines.
Support research evaluating IgE reactivity to broccoli and other foods in the Brassica family.

Specimen Types

Venous blood, with measurement performed on serum.
Plasma may be accepted by some assay systems, but specimen requirements are method-specific and should be confirmed with the testing laboratory.

Measurement Methods

In-vitro allergen-specific IgE immunoassay.
Fluorescence enzyme immunoassay (FEIA).
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or related automated immunoassay methods.
Older radioallergosorbent tests (RAST) are historical; modern fluorescence enzyme-labeled assays have largely replaced them.
Skin-prick testing measures cutaneous reactivity to broccoli extract but is a different test from serum F260-specific IgE measurement.

Test Preparation and Influencing Factors

Fasting is generally not required for an allergy blood test unless other tests collected at the same time require fasting.
Patients should report all prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements to the healthcare professional.
Antihistamines generally do not interfere with serum-specific IgE testing, unlike skin-prick testing, but medications should not be stopped without medical advice.
Results should be interpreted with the timing, amount, and preparation of broccoli consumed and the patient’s symptoms.
A positive result indicates sensitization and does not establish clinical allergy or predict reaction severity.
A negative result reduces the likelihood of IgE sensitization but does not alone exclude food allergy.
Reference ranges and reporting classes vary by assay; results from different methods may not be directly interchangeable.
Oral food challenges, when clinically appropriate, must be performed under specialist supervision because blood-test results alone cannot confirm food allergy.