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 IgE antibody levels in your blood to lamb (F088-IgE Lamb). Lamb is red meat from domesticated sheep less than a year old.
IgE is the antibody class involved in allergic reactions. A result shows whether lamb-specific IgE is present in your blood sample. This test measures lamb only and does not provide laboratory results for any other meat or food.
A lamb-specific IgE result reflects sensitization. It is not, by itself, a confirmed clinical food allergy.
Benefits
- Measures IgE antibodies specific to lamb meat
- Helps screen for a possible lamb allergy
- Provides information your healthcare provider can use when developing a management plan
- Requires only a blood sample
- Needs no special preparation
Who Is This Test For?
- People who have had symptoms after eating lamb or lamb-based products
- Individuals who notice itching, hives, swelling, or tingling around the mouth after lamb
- People with digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, or diarrhea after eating lamb
- Individuals with a history of tick bites who want to discuss reactions to red meat with a provider
- Anyone whose healthcare provider wants lamb-specific IgE information
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What does this test measure, and why might it be ordered?
It looks for IgE antibodies to lamb in your blood. Lamb allergy is uncommon, but some people may react after eating lamb or lamb-based products. The result can help your healthcare provider evaluate possible lamb sensitization and plan next steps. It does not test for other meats or foods.
2. Who should consider this test, and when?
Consider it if you have had symptoms after eating lamb. Reactions vary from mild to severe and may involve the skin, digestive tract, or breathing. Most food-related symptoms begin within two hours, often within minutes, but some reactions may be delayed by four to six hours or longer. Seek immediate medical attention for signs of anaphylaxis.
3. Do I need to fast or prepare for this test?
No special preparation is required. You can visit the lab without changing your routine.
4. How quickly will I get results?
Results take 3-5 business days. They may take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.
5. How should I interpret my results?
Interpretation depends on your lamb-specific IgE result, your symptoms, your history, and other clinical information. An IgE result shows sensitization to lamb, which is not the same as a confirmed clinical allergy. The result alone does not predict reaction severity, guarantee that lamb is safe, or mean that lamb must be avoided. Review it with a qualified healthcare provider.
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.
6. What should I do after I receive my results?
Share them with your healthcare provider, along with any symptoms and reaction history. Your provider can explain what the result means for you and whether further evaluation is appropriate. Do not change your diet or medications based on this result alone.
Pre-test preparation
No special preparation is required.
Cross-Reactivity
Cross-reactivity may occur when the immune system recognizes similar proteins or molecules in different foods or substances. This test measures only IgE to lamb and does not test for the items listed below. These examples are not exhaustive, and they are possible considerations rather than confirmed allergies. A relationship does not mean you will react to another item. Depending on your history, symptoms, or your healthcare provider's guidance, related allergen testing may be worth discussing.
- Beef, pork, venison, and rabbit: Other mammalian meats may share allergenic features with lamb, and some people with a lamb allergy may also react to them.
- Alpha-gal (mammalian meat allergy): Alpha-gal is a sugar found in mammals, and sensitization after Lone Star tick bites has been associated with reactions to several red meats, often delayed by 3-8 hours.
- Gelatin and mammalian-derived products: Because alpha-gal is present in some mammal-derived products, gelatin has been associated with reactions in some people with alpha-gal syndrome.
- Cow's milk and milk products: Some people with alpha-gal syndrome may also react to dairy, though this varies from person to person.
