Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood
- Fasting: No special preparation is required.
- Turnaround: 3-5 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
What This Test Measures
This test measures the level of IgE antibodies to egg white in your blood. IgE is the type of antibody your immune system can produce when it treats certain proteins as harmful. The test looks only at egg white, not egg yolk or any other food.
A blood sample is used for this test. Your result reflects IgE antibody levels to egg white and is not a stand-alone confirmation of a clinical food allergy. Your healthcare provider can review it alongside your history and symptoms.
Benefits
- Measures IgE antibody levels to egg white in a single blood sample
- Helps screen for an egg white allergy
- Gives your healthcare provider information for planning management and treatment
- Requires no special preparation
- Delivers results online
Who Is This Test For?
- People who have had symptoms of an allergic reaction after eating eggs
- Individuals with symptoms such as hives, swelling, or a tingling sensation around the mouth
- Those who have had stomach discomfort, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after eating eggs
- People who have had congestion, wheezing, or breathing or swallowing difficulty related to eating eggs
- Individuals working with a healthcare provider on an egg allergy management plan
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What does this test measure?
The test measures IgE antibodies to egg white in your blood. When your immune system reacts to certain egg white proteins, it can produce these antibodies, which lead to the release of histamine and the symptoms of an allergic reaction. Your healthcare provider can use the result to help evaluate a possible egg white allergy and plan management and treatment.
2. Who should consider this test, and when?
If you have had symptoms after eating eggs, this test may be worth considering. Most food-related symptoms appear within two hours, and they often begin within minutes. In some rare cases, a reaction may be delayed by four to six hours or longer. Symptoms can affect the skin, digestive tract, and airways. Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical attention.
3. Do I need to fast or prepare for this test?
No special preparation is required.
4. How quickly will I get results?
Results are available in 3-5 business days. They 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 egg white in your blood. It does not, on its own, confirm a clinical food allergy or tell you how you may react. Interpretation depends on your result, your history, your symptoms, and other clinical information. If your result is outside the reference range, review it with a qualified healthcare provider, who can advise on 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 is required.
Cross-Reactivity
Cross-reactivity may occur when the immune system recognizes similar proteins in different foods or substances. This test measures only IgE antibodies to egg white and does not test for any of the items listed below. These examples are not exhaustive, and they describe possible relationships, not confirmed allergies. If related reactions are a concern, testing for related allergens may be worth discussing with your healthcare provider, based on your history and symptoms.
Chicken meat: Some people with egg allergy may also react to chicken meat, although this is less common, and it may involve shared proteins.
Other bird eggs (duck, goose, quail, turkey): Egg proteins from different bird species can be similar, so some people may react to more than one type of egg.
Bird feathers and dander: Sensitization to birds or feathers has been associated with egg reactions in some people, a pattern sometimes called bird-egg syndrome.
