Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood serum
- Fasting: Not required
- Turn-around: 3-5 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
Benefits:
- Early detection prevents severe allergic reactions and emergency situations
- Convenient testing with no physician referral required for direct ordering
- Fast results available within 3-5 business days for quick health decisions
- Cost-effective screening helps avoid expensive emergency treatments
- Confidential testing maintains privacy of your health information
- Clinical accuracy uses advanced FEIA technology for reliable results
Who Is This Test For?
- People experiencing allergic symptoms after eating crab or shellfish
- Individuals with family history of shellfish allergies
- Those at risk for severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis
- People considering shellfish in their diet who want to screen first
- Anyone needing confirmation before starting allergy immunotherapy
How It Works – Just 3 Steps
- Order online and visit a nearby lab for quick blood draw
- Get tested with simple blood sample collection in minutes
- Receive results within 3-5 business days.
FAQ
What does this test measure? It measures IgE antibodies specific to crab proteins in your blood.
Do I need to fast before the test? No fasting or special preparation is required for this test.
How accurate is this blood test? FEIA technology provides high sensitivity and specificity for crab allergy detection (Mayo Clinic 2025).
Can I eat crab before the test? Yes, recent crab consumption won't affect your test results.
Will this detect other shellfish allergies? This test is specific to crab; separate tests are needed for other shellfish.
What if my results are positive? Consult an allergist to interpret results and develop an allergy management plan.
More Details
What is the purpose of this test?
This test detects IgE antibodies specific to crab proteins in your blood, confirming whether you're allergic to crab. The Fluorescence Enzyme Immunoassay (FEIA) provides quantitative levels that help establish allergy diagnosis and guide treatment decisions (Mayo Clinic 2025). Crab allergy affects approximately 2% of the U.S. population and is a leading cause of food-induced anaphylaxis (PubMed Central 2020).
Who would benefit from this test?
Anyone experiencing allergic reactions after crab consumption should consider this test. It's particularly valuable for individuals at risk of severe shellfish allergies or anaphylaxis. The test helps differentiate crab allergy from other food intolerances and supports clinical decision-making for allergy management (Mayo Clinic 2024).
When should I order a Crab Allergy IgE Blood Test?
Order this test when you suspect crab allergy based on symptoms like tingling around the mouth, swelling, hives, nausea, difficulty breathing, or anaphylaxis after crab exposure. Testing is recommended before starting immunotherapy or when symptoms occur within minutes to hours of crab consumption (Mayo Clinic Labs 2025).
How do I interpret the results?
IgE Level < 0.10 kU/L
- Class: 0
- Meaning: Negative - No allergy detected
IgE Level 0.10–0.34 kU/L
- Class: 1
- Meaning: Very low - Unlikely allergic reaction
IgE Level 0.35–0.69 kU/L
- Class: 2
- Meaning: Low - Possible allergic reaction
IgE Level 0.70–3.49 kU/L
- Class: 3
- Meaning: Moderate - Likely allergic reaction
IgE Level 3.50–17.49 kU/L
- Class: 4
- Meaning: High - Very likely allergic reaction
IgE Level 17.50–49.99 kU/L
- Class: 5
- Meaning: Very high - Strong allergic reaction expected
IgE Level ≥ 50.00 kU/L
- Class: 6
- Meaning: Extremely high - Severe reaction likely
Higher IgE levels correlate with increased clinical risk and severity of allergic reactions.
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 fasting, dietary restrictions, or medication changes are required. Avoid recent immunotherapy treatments as they may affect results. Simply arrive at the lab for your blood draw appointment (Mayo Clinic Labs 2025).
How often should I get tested?
- Initial screening: Once for diagnosis
- Confirmed allergy: Only if symptoms change
- During immunotherapy: As directed by allergist
- Childhood allergy: Retest in adolescence
Why early detection matters
Early crab allergy detection prevents severe allergic reactions and life-threatening anaphylaxis. Prompt identification reduces healthcare costs associated with emergency interventions and enables proper lifestyle modifications. Testing facilitates timely clinical decision-making and appropriate allergy management strategies (PubMed Central 2020).
Related tests you may consider
Allergen Profile Shellfish Blood Test- Measures the IgE antibody levels in the blood to help detect an allergy to various common shellfish.ns
Seafood Allergy IgE Blood Test - Measures the IgE antibody levels in the blood to detect an allergy to various common seafood.
IgE Food Allergy Advanced Test, Serum - Mosaic Diagnostics Test Kit- Checks for allergic reactions to 92 common foods by measuring IgE antibodies in the blood, helping identify foods that may cause symptoms like rashes, stomach issues, or trouble breathing.
