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's Included
This panel measures allergen-specific IgE antibody levels for a set of tree nuts and peanuts. Availability of certain allergens varies by laboratory.
Tested by All Labs
- Peanut IgE: Measures IgE antibodies to peanuts, a legume commonly grouped with tree nut allergies.
- Almond IgE: Measures IgE antibodies to almond.
- Cashew Nut IgE: Measures IgE antibodies to cashew nuts.
- Hazelnut (Filbert) IgE: Measures IgE antibodies to hazelnut.
- Pecan Nut IgE: Measures IgE antibodies to pecan.
LabCorp Only
- Brazil Nut IgE: Measures IgE antibodies to Brazil nuts.
- Walnut IgE: Measures IgE antibodies to walnut.
Not Included with LabCorp
- Coconut IgE: Measures IgE antibodies to coconut.
- Sesame Seed IgE: Measures IgE antibodies to sesame seed.
Benefits
- Measures IgE antibody levels for 9 specified tree nut and peanut allergens.
- Combines multiple related allergen measurements into a single blood draw.
- Uses a standard blood sample with no special preparation required.
- Provides results for each listed allergen individually.
- Offers a convenient way to review several nut-related allergens together.
Who Is This Test For?
- Individuals who have experienced symptoms after eating peanuts or a tree nut listed in this panel.
- Individuals who noticed tingling, swelling, hives, or stomach upset after nut-containing foods.
- Individuals with a personal or family history of reactions to any of the listed allergens.
- Individuals who want to review IgE levels for several listed nut allergens in one panel.
- Individuals working with a healthcare provider to evaluate possible reactions to peanuts or tree nuts.
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What does this panel test?
This panel measures IgE antibody levels for peanuts and a set of tree nuts, screening for immune sensitization to each allergen individually. It reports separate IgE results for each allergen rather than a single combined score, so you can review your levels for peanut, almond, cashew, hazelnut, pecan, and, depending on the lab, Brazil nut, walnut, coconut, and sesame seed.
2. Does this panel test every tree nut?
No, this panel measures only the specific allergens listed in What's Included. It does not screen for every tree nut or seed that exists, such as pine nut, macadamia, or pistachio, and results should not be read as covering nuts outside this list.
3. How does this panel differ from individual food allergy tests?
This panel measures multiple specified peanut and tree nut allergens together in one order, while an individual allergy test focuses on a single specified allergen. Choosing between the two depends on how many allergens you and your healthcare provider want to review at once, not on which option is inherently more accurate.
4. Who should consider this panel, and when?
This panel may be relevant if you have noticed symptoms such as tingling, swelling, hives, or digestive upset after eating peanuts or a tree nut included above, or if you have a personal or family history involving these foods. It is often considered alongside guidance from a healthcare provider evaluating a possible reaction.
5. Do I need to fast or prepare for this test?
No special preparation is required for this test. You can visit the lab for your blood draw without fasting or making other changes beforehand.
6. How long will it take to get my results?
Results are typically available in 3-5 business days, though this may take longer based on weather, holidays, or lab delays. You'll be notified once your results are ready to view online.
7. How should I interpret my results, and what if one or more are abnormal?
Each allergen result in this panel reflects IgE sensitization to that specific food and should be considered on its own, alongside your symptom history and a healthcare provider's guidance, rather than as a single combined score. A positive result for one allergen does not determine the result for another, and no result in this panel confirms a clinical food allergy, predicts reaction severity, or establishes whether a food is safe to eat. If one or more results are abnormal, review them with a qualified healthcare provider, who can help determine whether further evaluation is appropriate; this panel does not diagnose a food allergy or indicate which foods should be eliminated from your diet.
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 for this test.
Cross-Reactivity
Cross-reactivity may occur when the immune system recognizes similar proteins across different foods, even foods that are not tree nuts or peanuts by botanical or culinary classification. This panel measures only the allergens listed in What's Included above, and the foods and substances discussed below are not part of the current panel unless they appear in that list. The relationships noted here are not exhaustive, and they represent possible additional considerations rather than confirmed allergies. Having IgE sensitization to one allergen does not mean you will necessarily react to another. Depending on your symptoms, history, or previous reactions, discussing related allergen testing with your healthcare provider may be worth considering.
- Other tree nuts and legumes: Peanut is a legume that has been shown in research to share cross-reactive proteins with several tree nuts, including almond, Brazil nut, hazelnut, and pecan, which may partly explain why peanut-allergic individuals are often also sensitized to tree nuts.
- Other legumes (such as soy, lentil, or chickpea): Peanut allergy has been associated with serologic cross-sensitization to other legumes, though clinically significant reactions to these foods occur less consistently than reactions among peanut and tree nuts.
- Birch pollen: Hazelnut and almond sensitization has been associated with birch pollen sensitization through shared proteins, a pattern sometimes described as pollen food allergy syndrome, which can produce mild oral or throat symptoms rather than severe reactions.
- Sesame seed: Research has reported cross-reactivity between sesame seed and both peanut and certain tree nuts, related to shared storage proteins, with co-sensitization reported across these groups.
- Coconut: Coconut is botanically classified as a fruit rather than a true tree nut, and cross-reactivity between coconut and other tree nuts has been reported as uncommon in the available evidence, though it is not entirely absent.
These relationships describe possible protein similarities identified in research, not a prediction of how your immune system will respond. If reactions to nuts, seeds, or other related foods are a concern, additional evaluation may be considered based on your history and your healthcare provider's guidance.
