Peanut Allergy IgE Blood Test

Order a peanut allergy IgE blood test to detect an allergy to tree nuts and peanuts. This test measures the amount of allergen-specific antibodies in a blood sample. 

Peanuts are the second most common food allergy in adults. Even though the word nut is in the name peanut, they are not nuts. Peanuts are legumes and grow underground, unlike tree nuts. 

Besides being one of the most popular food allergies, peanuts are an important food source worldwide. An individual can be exposed to peanuts in several ways:

• Direct contact - Eating peanuts or foods containing peanuts is the most common cause of peanut allergy. It is also possible that direct contact with the skin can initiate an allergic reaction.
• Cross contact - Unintendital exposure of peanuts into a product. This is usually a result of a food being exposed to peanuts during processing and handling.
• Inhalation - Inhalation of dust or aerosols containing peanuts can cause an allergic reaction. Sources may include peanut flour or peanut oil cooking spray.

Individuals with peanut allergies should avoid foods or ingredients that contain peanuts, such as:

• Peanut oil
• Ground nuts
• Artificial nuts
• Lupin (lupine)
• Beer nuts
• Mandelonas
• Cold-pressed, expelled or extruded peanut oil
• Mixed nuts
• Goobers
• Monkey nuts
• Nut meat
• Peanut butter
• Nut pieces
• Peanut flour
• Peanut protein hydrolysate

Individuals with peanut allergies should be careful to verify food ingredients, especially those foods not prepared yourself.

• African, Asian (especially Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese), and Mexican restaurant food—Cross-contact is possible even if ordering a peanut-free dish
• Candy (including chocolate candy)
• Egg rolls
• Glazes and marinades
• Nougat
• Ice creams
• Nut butters
• Enchilada sauce
• Pancakes
• Sauces such as chili sauce, pesto, hot sauce, mole sauce, gravy, and salad dressing
• Marzipan
• Specialty pizzas
• Pet food
• Sunflower seeds (often processed on equipment shared with peanuts)
• Vegetarian food products, specifically those advertised as meat substitutes
• Sweets such as:
  • Pudding
  • Cookies
  • Baked goods
  • Pies
  • Hot chocolate

An allergy to peanuts triggers a reaction in an individual's immune system. The body views certain substances as toxic and produces IgE antibodies to these contaminants. These antibodies cause histamine to be released, which will cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Allergy symptoms vary from one individual to the next ranging from mild to severe reactions, which can be experienced within minutes to hours after consumption. Common symptoms of a peanut allergy may include one or more of the following symptoms:

• Coughing
• Itching around the face or mouth
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Sneezing
• Swelling lips
• Puffy or runny eyes
• Vomiting
• Gravelly throat
• Hives
• Trouble breathing
• Feeling faint
• Difficulty swallowing