Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood
- Fasting: No special preparation required.
- Turnaround: 3-5 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.
What This Test Measures
The Corn Allergy IgE Blood Test measures IgE antibodies to corn (also known as maize) in your blood. It reports one biomarker: F008-IgE Maize/Corn.
This is a single allergen test. It does not measure other foods, and it does not measure other antibody classes. A blood sample is used to look at your immune system's IgE response to corn.
An IgE result is not the same as a confirmed clinical food allergy. Your physician can help you understand what a result means for you.
Benefits
- Measures IgE antibodies to corn (maize) in a blood sample.
- Focuses on one allergen: F008-IgE Maize/Corn.
- Requires no special preparation.
- Delivers results online in 3-5 business days.
- Gives you information to discuss with your physician.
Who Is This Test For?
- People with symptoms they associate with corn or corn-containing products.
- People who notice symptoms after exposure to cornstarch, corn syrup, or vegetable oil.
- People with hives, itching around the mouth, or wheezing after possible corn exposure.
- People with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain after possible corn exposure.
- People who want IgE blood testing for corn to review with a physician.
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What does this test measure?
It looks at IgE antibodies to corn (maize) in your blood, reported as F008-IgE Maize/Corn. Because it covers only this one allergen, it gives no laboratory information about other foods. Your healthcare provider can use the result, alongside your history and symptoms, to evaluate whether your immune system has an IgE response to corn.
2. Who should consider this test, and when?
Testing may be worth considering if you notice symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, abdominal pain, hives, itching around the mouth, or wheezing after exposure to corn or products that contain it, such as cornstarch, corn syrup, or vegetable oil. Severe reactions need prompt medical attention. Testing does not replace a medical evaluation.
3. Do I need to fast or prepare for this test?
No special preparation required.
4. How quickly will I get results?
Your results take 3-5 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.
5. How should I interpret my results, and what if they are abnormal?
A result shows the level of IgE antibodies to corn in your blood, but it cannot confirm a clinical food allergy on its own. Interpretation depends on your symptoms, history, and other clinical information. Positive allergy test results should be discussed with your physician, who can advise on any next steps.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
Pre-test preparation
No special preparation required.
Cross-Reactivity
Cross-reactivity may occur when the immune system recognizes similar proteins in different foods or pollens. This test measures only IgE antibodies to corn and does not test for any of the items below. The list is not exhaustive, and these are possible considerations, not confirmed allergies. Depending on your history, symptoms, or your healthcare provider's guidance, related allergen testing may be worth discussing.
- Peach: Corn's main allergen is a lipid transfer protein that has shown cross-reactivity with peach lipid transfer protein in studies of people with corn allergy.
- Rice: Corn's lipid transfer protein has also shown cross-reactivity with rice lipid transfer protein in laboratory studies.
- Wheat and barley: Another corn protein (a trypsin inhibitor) has shown cross-reactivity with wheat and barley proteins, though corn's main allergen did not in one study.
- Grass pollen: Corn is a grass, and some corn proteins have shown cross-reactivity with grass proteins, so some people may react to both.
