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 to lobster (F080-IgE Lobster) in your blood. IgE is an antibody your immune system can produce when it treats a substance as harmful. That response can lead to the release of histamine, which is associated with allergy symptoms.
This is a single-allergen test, so it reports on lobster only. It does not test other foods, and your lobster result does not provide results for any other food.
An IgE result is not the same as a confirmed clinical food allergy. It does not show how severe a reaction could be, or whether lobster is safe for you to eat. Your healthcare provider can review your result alongside your history and symptoms.
Benefits
- Measures IgE antibody levels to lobster in your blood.
- Provides lobster-specific IgE results to share with your healthcare provider.
- Helps you and your provider evaluate possible immune sensitization to lobster.
- Requires only a blood sample and no special preparation.
- Delivers results online in 3-5 business days.
Who Is This Test For?
- You have had symptoms you associate with eating lobster.
- You have had itching, hives, swelling, or tingling around the mouth after lobster exposure.
- You have had stomach discomfort, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after lobster exposure.
- You have had congestion, wheezing, or lightheadedness after lobster exposure.
- You want lobster-specific IgE results to discuss with your healthcare provider.
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What does this test measure, and how is it different from other food allergy tests?
It measures IgE antibodies to lobster (F080-IgE Lobster) in a blood sample. Your healthcare provider may use the result to evaluate whether your immune system has responded to lobster. Its scope is limited to lobster and one antibody class (IgE). It does not measure other foods or other antibody types, and the results are not interchangeable with them.
2. Who should consider this test, and when?
If you have had a reaction after eating or touching lobster, this test may be relevant. Allergy symptoms vary from mild to severe. Most food-related symptoms occur within two hours of ingestion and often begin within minutes. In some rare cases, they are delayed by four to six hours or longer. Severe symptoms, such as a swollen throat, trouble breathing, or loss of consciousness, need 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?
Expect results in 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?
Your result shows whether IgE antibodies to lobster were detected. It cannot establish a clinical food allergy on its own, and it does not predict reaction severity or tell you whether lobster is safe to eat. If your result is outside the reference range, review it with a qualified healthcare provider. They can consider it alongside your history and symptoms and decide whether further evaluation is 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.
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 other substances. This test measures only lobster IgE and does not test for any of the items listed below. The examples are not exhaustive, and they are possible considerations rather than confirmed allergies. Cross-reactivity does not mean you will react to another item. If related allergens are a concern, testing may be worth discussing with your healthcare provider, based on your history and symptoms.
- Other crustaceans (such as shrimp, crab, and crayfish): Cross-reactivity has been reported, largely because these animals share a muscle protein called tropomyosin.
- Mollusks (such as clams, oysters, mussels, and squid): Tropomyosin similarity may lead to cross-reactivity in some people, though reactions to mollusks are less consistent than among crustaceans.
- House dust mites:Tropomyosin in dust mites is similar to that in shellfish, and some people with shellfish allergy may also be sensitized to dust mites.
- Cockroaches: Cockroach tropomyosin may share allergenic features with shellfish, and cross-sensitization has been reported.
