Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood
- Fasting: No special preparation required
- Turnaround: 3-5 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.
What This Test Measures
This test measures the amount of peanut-specific IgE antibodies in your blood sample. The biomarker tested is F013-IgE Peanut, also known as Whole Peanut, so it looks at the whole peanut allergen.
Peanuts are legumes that grow underground, not tree nuts. This test measures peanuts only and does not provide results for other foods or allergens.
An IgE result shows whether your immune system has produced antibodies to peanuts. On its own, it does not confirm a clinical food allergy.
Benefits
- Measures peanut-specific IgE antibodies from a single blood sample
- Focuses on one allergen: whole peanut
- Provides results you can review with your healthcare provider
- Requires no special preparation
- Delivers results online in 3-5 business days
Who Is This Test For?
- People who want to check peanut-specific IgE antibodies
- People who have coughing, itching around the mouth, or hives after eating
- People who have had stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting after peanut exposure
- People concerned about cross-contact with peanuts during food processing or handling
- People who have had trouble breathing or swelling lips after exposure
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 looks at one thing: peanut-specific IgE antibodies in your blood, reported as F013-IgE Peanut (Whole Peanut). Peanuts are legumes, so this test does not measure tree nuts. It also does not measure other antibody classes, such as IgG, and IgE results should not be treated as interchangeable with them.
2. Who should consider this test, and when?
If you have had symptoms such as hives, itching around the face or mouth, stomach pain, or trouble breathing after possible peanut exposure, this test may be worth discussing. Exposure can come from eating peanuts, skin contact, cross-contact, or inhaling peanut dust or aerosols. Your healthcare provider can help decide whether testing fits your situation.
3. Do I need to fast or prepare for this test?
No special preparation required.
4. How quickly will I get my 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?
A result shows the level of peanut-specific IgE antibodies in your blood. It does not, by itself, establish a clinical food allergy, predict how you might react, or tell you whether peanuts are safe for you to eat. Meaning depends on your symptoms, history, and other clinical information. If your result is abnormal, review it with a qualified healthcare provider, who can discuss next steps with you.
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 required.
Cross-Reactivity
Cross-reactivity may occur when the immune system recognizes similar proteins in different foods or pollens. This test measures only whole peanut IgE and does not test for any of the items below. These examples are not exhaustive, and they are possibilities to consider, not confirmed allergies. A cross-reactive relationship does not mean you will react to another allergen. Depending on your history, symptoms, or healthcare provider's guidance, related allergen testing may be worth discussing.
- Tree nuts: Some people with peanut allergy also react to tree nuts such as walnuts, cashew, or almond, though peanuts and tree nuts are botanically different.
- Lupin: Cross-reactivity between peanut and lupin (a legume) has been reported, and some people with peanut allergy may also react to lupin.
- Other legumes: Soy, pea, lentil, and chickpea may share proteins with peanuts, but clinical reactions to them are less common.
- Birch pollen: Some people with birch pollen allergy have IgE that recognizes a peanut protein, which may cause mild, mostly oral symptoms.
