Biomarker: T070-IgE White Mulberry

Overview

T070-IgE White Mulberry measures serum allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies directed against white mulberry (Morus alba) pollen. IgE contributes to immediate hypersensitivity reactions by binding allergens and activating mast cells and basophils. Elevated results indicate sensitization to the tested allergen but do not, by themselves, establish symptomatic allergy or predict reaction severity. The test is clinically useful as an aid in evaluating allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, or other suspected reactions associated with white mulberry exposure, when interpreted with the patient’s history and other findings.

Clinical Use Cases

Supporting evaluation of suspected white mulberry pollen allergy.
Assessing patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, or asthma associated with tree-pollen exposure.
Helping evaluate patients who cannot undergo skin-prick testing because of skin disease, medication use, age, or concern about a severe reaction.
Investigating possible cross-sensitization involving related pollens or plant foods, although a positive result does not establish clinical cross-reactivity.
Supporting allergy research involving white mulberry pollen sensitization and allergen characterization.

Specimen Types

Serum from venous blood.
Serum from capillary blood may be acceptable for some validated methods.

Measurement Methods

Allergen-specific immunoassay using an allergen-coated solid phase, such as a fluorescence enzyme immunoassay.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or related solid-phase immunoassays.
Immunoblotting and immunoblot inhibition in research studies to characterize IgE-binding white mulberry pollen proteins.
Skin-prick testing and nasal provocation are complementary in vivo methods for assessing sensitization and clinical relevance, but they do not measure serum T070-IgE directly.

Test Preparation and Influencing Factors

Fasting is generally not required for an allergy blood test.
Tell the healthcare provider about all medications. Antihistamines may affect skin testing, but medication changes should only be made when instructed by a healthcare provider.
Results should be interpreted with symptoms, exposure history, seasonality, and other allergy-test findings.
A positive result indicates sensitization and does not confirm that exposure causes symptoms or indicate reaction severity.
Total IgE, smoking, parasitic infection, and other allergic or inflammatory conditions may influence overall IgE interpretation and can contribute to misleading results.
Cross-reactivity with related pollens or plant-food allergens may affect interpretation.
Serum should be separated appropriately and handled according to the laboratory’s validated requirements. Repeated freezing and thawing should be avoided.