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 melon (F087-IgE Melon) in a blood sample. IgE is the type of antibody the immune system can produce when it treats a food protein as harmful. Melon is also known as honeydew, cantaloupe, muskmelon, common melon, or Cucumis melo.
This is a single food allergen test. It reports on melon only and does not measure other foods or antibody types. A result shows whether melon-specific IgE is present. It does not confirm a clinical food allergy on its own.
Benefits
- Measures IgE antibody levels to melon in a blood sample.
- Focuses on one food, melon, for clear and targeted information.
- Provides melon-specific IgE information to review with your healthcare provider.
- Requires only a blood sample, with no special preparation.
- Delivers results online in 3-5 days, though delays may occur.
Who Is This Test For?
- People who notice itching or swelling in the mouth after eating raw melon.
- Individuals with oral allergy syndrome (OAS) who want to discuss melon.
- People who experience hives, nausea, or other symptoms after eating melon.
- Those who regularly eat melon in fruit salads, sorbets, or beverages and have concerns.
- Anyone who wants melon IgE information to review with their healthcare provider.
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What does this test measure?
It looks at IgE antibodies to melon (F087-IgE Melon) in your blood. Your healthcare provider may use this information, along with your history and symptoms, when evaluating a possible melon allergy. The test covers melon only and does not, on its own, confirm a clinical food allergy.
2. Who should consider this test, and when?
If you have noticed symptoms such as mouth tingling, itching, or swelling after eating melon, you may want to discuss testing with your healthcare provider. The same goes for people with oral allergy syndrome who have questions about melon. Testing is not needed by everyone, and it does not replace a medical evaluation.
3. Do I need to fast or prepare for this test?
No special preparation is required.
4. How quickly will I get results?
3-5 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays. Your results are delivered online.
5. How should I interpret my results, and what if they are abnormal?
A melon IgE result shows whether your immune system has produced IgE antibodies to melon. It cannot establish on its own whether you have a clinical melon allergy, and it does not show how you would react to melon. Your healthcare provider will interpret the result alongside your history and symptoms. If your result is outside the reference range, review it with a qualified healthcare provider to discuss appropriate 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, pollens, or other substances. This test measures only IgE to melon and does not test for any of the items listed below.
These examples are not exhaustive. They are possible considerations, not confirmed allergies, and many people with one of these relationships never react to melon. If related allergens are a concern, additional evaluation may be worth discussing with your healthcare provider, based on your history and symptoms.
- Ragweed pollen: Some people with ragweed pollen allergy report mouth symptoms after eating melon, a pattern seen in pollen-food allergy syndrome.
- Grass pollen: Grass pollen allergy has also been associated with reactions to melons in pollen-food allergy syndrome.
- Banana: Banana is among the foods reported alongside melon in ragweed-related pollen-food allergy syndrome.
- Cucumber and zucchini: These gourd-family foods are also reported in ragweed-associated pollen-food allergy syndrome, and some people may react to more than one.
- Latex: Latex-fruit syndrome has been reported, and melon is among the fruits some people with latex allergy may react to.
