Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood
- Fasting: No special preparation is required.
- Turnaround: 4-7 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
What This Test Measures
This test directly measures Interleukin-8 (IL-8) in your blood. IL-8 is a protein your body produces during inflammation, and it plays a role in attracting white blood cells to areas of infection or tissue damage. Measuring IL-8 gives your healthcare provider information about the level of inflammatory activity present in your body at the time of testing.
IL-8 levels are used to help assess inflammation associated with a range of conditions, including infections, autoimmune diseases, and certain cancers. Because IL-8 reflects general inflammatory activity rather than one specific disease process, results are most useful when interpreted alongside your symptoms, medical history, and other clinical information from your healthcare provider.
Benefits
- Measures IL-8, a protein linked to the body's inflammatory response.
- Helps assess the extent of inflammation present in your body.
- Supports evaluation of infections and inflammatory conditions.
- May help track inflammation levels associated with cancer.
- Can help monitor changes in inflammation over time.
Who Is This Test For?
- People whose healthcare provider is evaluating a possible active infection.
- Individuals being evaluated for inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease.
- People with skin conditions, such as psoriasis or eczema, involving inflammation.
- Individuals with respiratory conditions such as COPD or asthma.
- People whose care team is assessing inflammation related to certain cancers.
- Individuals being evaluated for possible sepsis or systemic inflammation.
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What is the purpose of this test?
This test measures the level of Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a protein involved in the body's inflammatory response, in your blood. IL-8 helps attract white blood cells to areas of infection or tissue damage, so measuring it can help your healthcare provider evaluate the presence and extent of inflammation. IL-8 levels may also be used to help monitor inflammatory activity over time in conditions such as infections, autoimmune diseases, and certain cancers. This test does not diagnose any specific condition on its own, and results are interpreted by your healthcare provider alongside other clinical information.
2. Who should consider this test?
Your healthcare provider may recommend this test if you have symptoms or a clinical picture suggesting an inflammatory process, such as signs of a severe infection, chronic inflammatory symptoms, respiratory symptoms, skin changes, abdominal pain, or joint pain and swelling. It's commonly used for people being evaluated for a possible infection; an inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease; a skin condition such as psoriasis or eczema; a respiratory condition like COPD or asthma; inflammation related to certain cancers; or possible sepsis or systemic inflammation. Discussing your symptoms and health history with your healthcare provider can help determine whether this test fits your specific situation.
3. How does this test differ from other cancer-related tests?
Unlike tests designed to detect a particular tumor marker, IL-8 reflects general inflammatory activity rather than a process specific to one disease or cancer type. It can be elevated in many inflammatory conditions, including infections and autoimmune diseases, in addition to certain cancers. Because inflammation is not exclusive to cancer, this test is used to help assess inflammatory activity rather than to identify or characterize a specific cancer.
4. Do I need to fast before this test?
No special preparation is required for this test. You do not need to fast or make any dietary changes before your sample is collected.
5. How quickly will I get results?
Results are typically available in 4-7 days. Results may take longer based on weather, holidays, or other lab delays.
6. How do I interpret the results?
Interpreting your IL-8 results depends on your specific result, your symptoms, your medical history, and other clinical findings. An elevated IL-8 level indicates increased inflammatory activity, but it does not by itself confirm cancer or any other specific diagnosis, since inflammation can arise from infections, autoimmune conditions, and other noncancerous causes. Likewise, a normal result does not automatically rule out an underlying condition. If IL-8 is being followed over time, changes in your levels may provide useful context for your healthcare provider without independently establishing a particular clinical conclusion. Your healthcare provider may consider your results alongside other laboratory tests, imaging, or clinical evaluation as appropriate.
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.
7. What should I do if my results are abnormal?
Discuss abnormal results with a qualified healthcare provider, who can help determine whether additional evaluation is appropriate based on your symptoms, medical history, and overall clinical picture.
8. How often should I get tested?
How often you should be tested depends on your individual health situation and the reason your healthcare provider recommended this test. There is no set testing schedule that applies to everyone, so follow-up testing should be done as directed by your healthcare provider.
Pre-test preparation
No special preparation is required.
