Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood draw (serum)
- Fasting: No fasting required
- Turn-around: 3-5 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
Benefits
- Identify specific seafood allergens causing your symptoms and refine avoidance strategies
- Skip the doctor visit with convenient online ordering and optional at-home collection
- Prevent severe reactions by confirming sensitization before accidental seafood exposure
- Support proactive health decisions with highly accurate FEIA immunoassay technology
Who Is This Test For?
- Individuals experiencing allergic symptoms after eating seafood or shellfish
- People with family history of allergies seeking proactive screening
- Those needing allergen identification to guide dietary choices and lifestyle
- Anyone requiring baseline monitoring or evaluating changes in allergy status
- Individuals considering immunotherapy who need sensitization confirmation
How It Works – Just 3 Steps
- Order online - Schedule your test at any certified lab location
- Get tested - Quick blood draw takes just minutes, no preparation needed
- Review results - Receive confidential results within 3-5 days
FAQ
What does this test measure? It detects IgE antibodies specific to common seafood allergens, indicating immune sensitization that may cause allergic reactions.This test includes: codfish, crab, lobster, salmon, shrimp, and tuna.
How accurate is IgE blood testing? The Fluorescence Enzyme Immunoassay method provides highly sensitive and specific detection of seafood allergy antibodies (PubMed Central 2020).
Will medications affect my results? Some antihistamines or immunosuppressants may influence results; inform your lab about current medications before testing.
Can I test without symptoms? Yes, proactive screening is valuable for individuals with family history or concerns about potential seafood allergies.
What if my results are positive? Positive results suggest sensitization; consult an allergist to correlate with clinical symptoms and develop avoidance or treatment plans.
How long are results valid? Allergy status can change over time; discuss repeat testing with your physician based on symptom patterns.
More Details
What is the purpose of this test?
This test measures immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody levels in your blood to detect allergic sensitization to common seafood allergens. Using the highly sensitive Fluorescence Enzyme Immunoassay (FEIA) method, it quantifies IgE antibodies specific to seafood proteins, indicating an immune response that may underlie allergic symptoms. The test helps diagnose seafood allergies, identify exact allergens causing reactions, and guide management strategies to prevent severe episodes including anaphylaxis.
Seafood allergies affect approximately 1-3% of the U.S. population, with shellfish ranking among the top eight food allergies. Early and accurate identification enables you to avoid accidental exposure, reducing emergency healthcare costs and preventing life-threatening reactions.
Who would benefit from this test?
You may benefit from this test if you've experienced allergic reactions after eating seafood, including symptoms like hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, or anaphylaxis. Individuals with family history of food allergies can use this test for proactive screening to inform dietary choices and lifestyle decisions (Mayo Clinic 2024).
The test is valuable for confirming suspected seafood allergies, identifying specific allergens within the seafood category, and establishing baseline sensitization before considering immunotherapy. Direct-to-consumer access makes it convenient for health-conscious individuals seeking empowered, confidential allergy assessment without requiring prior physician visits.
When should I order a Seafood Allergy IgE Blood Test?
Order this test after experiencing allergic reactions following seafood exposure or as part of comprehensive allergy evaluation. Most food-related allergic symptoms occur within two hours of ingestion, though reactions can begin within minutes or, rarely, be delayed four to six hours.
Common allergic reaction symptoms include:
- Tingling sensation near or around your mouth
- Swelling of lips, face, tongue, or throat
- Abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Itching, hives, or skin rash
- Nasal congestion or difficulty breathing
- Wheezing or chest tightness
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction requiring immediate medical attention. Warning signs include rapid heart rate, swollen throat making breathing difficult, low blood pressure, and extreme dizziness or loss of consciousness. If you've experienced anaphylaxis, urgent testing and allergist consultation are essential.
How do I interpret the results?
Results report IgE antibody concentrations for each tested seafood allergen. Values above laboratory reference thresholds suggest sensitization to that specific allergen.
- Negative/Low (<0.35 kU/L): No sensitization detected; allergy unlikely.
- Typical action: No dietary restrictions needed; monitor symptoms.
- Moderate (0.35–3.5 kU/L): Mild to moderate sensitization present.
- Typical action: Consult allergist; consider avoidance or supervised challenge.
- High (3.5–17.5 kU/L): Significant sensitization; probable clinical allergy.
- Typical action: Strict allergen avoidance; carry emergency medications.
- Very High (>17.5 kU/L): Strong sensitization; high allergy likelihood.
- Typical action: Complete avoidance; allergist management; epinephrine prescription.
Positive results indicate sensitization to tested seafood allergens and suggest clinical allergy if symptoms correspond. However, sensitization doesn't always mean you'll experience reactions; correlation with clinical presentation is essential (PubMed Central 2020). Review results with an allergist or physician to develop appropriate avoidance plans, emergency protocols, or consider immunotherapy options.
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 fasting is required before your blood draw. Inform your laboratory about current medications, particularly antihistamines or immunosuppressants, as these may affect IgE antibody levels. For most accurate results, avoid taking antihistamines 3-7 days before testing if medically safe to do so.
Blood samples (approximately 0.5 mL serum) are collected at walk-in laboratories or via mobile phlebotomy services. Samples must be refrigerated or frozen for transport and reach the laboratory within 14 days if refrigerated or 90 days if frozen (Mayo Clinic Labs 2020).
How often should I get tested?
- Initial diagnosis or symptom evaluation: One-time baseline testing
- Monitoring known seafood allergy: Every 1–2 years or as symptoms change
- After accidental exposure with new symptoms: Retest within 2–3 months
- Evaluating immunotherapy effectiveness: Every 6–12 months during treatment
- Children with diagnosed seafood allergy: Annually to assess potential tolerance development
Discuss repeat testing frequency with your physician based on symptom patterns, exposure history, and treatment goals. Allergy status can evolve over time, particularly in children.
Why early detection matters
Early and accurate identification of seafood allergens prevents severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. Knowing your specific seafood allergies enables you to implement strict avoidance strategies, reducing hospitalization risk and long-term allergy management expenses (Allergy Society of Australia 2024).
Beyond avoiding the seafood itself, you'll need to watch for hidden seafood ingredients in products including:
- Imitation fish or shellfish (surimi)
- Seafood stock, fish oil, and omega-3 supplements
- Caesar salad dressings and Worcestershire sauce
- Bouillabaisse and seafood flavorings
- Asian sauces and certain barbecue sauces
Some individuals react to airborne seafood particles from cooking or market environments, requiring additional precautions. Early diagnosis empowers you to carry emergency medications like epinephrine and educate family, friends, and restaurants about your allergy needs.
Related tests you may consider
200 Food Sensitivity Panel – ALCAT Test Kit – Screens for reactions to a wide range of foods, useful if you suspect allergies beyond seafood.
Total IgE Blood Test – Evaluates overall IgE levels to assess general allergic tendency, helping contextualize specific seafood IgE results and guide comprehensive allergy management.
Allergen Profile Shellfish Blood Test – Combines multiple shellfish allergens in a single test for comprehensive screening.
