Labcorp OnDemand’s Alpha-Gal Allergy Test screens for alpha-Gal syndrome (AGS), a tick-borne allergy condition that can lead to mild to severe allergic reactions to red meat (such as beef, pork or lamb) and other mammalian products (such as dairy products or gelatins). This test measures your body's immune response to specific allergens associated with alpha-Gal syndrome, helping to identify potential food allergies and assess your risk. Some people may have alpha-Gal syndrome and not know it.
Understanding your sensitivity to alpha-Gal, a sugar molecule found in most mammals, can be crucial for managing your diet and avoiding allergic reactions.
Note: This test is not for those with severe allergic reactions. If you've had a serious allergic reaction, consult a healthcare provider or allergist immediately. IgE testing alone cannot diagnose allergies. Discuss results with a healthcare professional before making any dietary changes.
Preparation: No special preparation is needed.
Measures the total level of IgE antibodies produced by the immune system in your blood, which are involved in allergic responses, infections and other conditions.
Measures IgE antibody level specific to alpha-gal, a sugar molecule found in most mammals.
Measures IgE antibody level in the blood that is specific to beef proteins, indicating a potential beef allergy.
Measures IgE antibody level in the blood that is specific to pork proteins, indicating a potential pork allergy.
Measures IgE antibody level in the blood that is specific to lamb proteins, indicating a potential lamb allergy.
If you've been exposed to tick-prone areas and experienced unexplained allergic reactions, this test may help identify if an alpha-gal allergy may be the cause. Symptoms may be mild or severe allergic reactions after consuming red meat or other products made from mammals.
If you've been exposed to tick-prone areas and experienced unexplained allergic reactions, this test may help identify if an alpha-gal allergy may be the cause. Symptoms may be mild or severe allergic reactions after consuming red meat or other products made from mammals. Symptoms may include hives, itchy skin, swelling of various body parts, wheezing or shortness of breath, runny nose, headaches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Note: This test is not for those with severe allergic reactions. If you've had a serious allergic reaction, consult a healthcare provider or allergist immediately. IgE testing alone cannot diagnose allergies. Discuss results with a healthcare professional before making any dietary changes.
Alpha-gal syndrome is associated with certain tick bites, particularly from the Lone Star tick in the US. If you've recently been bitten by a tick or traveled to a tick prone area and are concerned about developing alpha-gal syndrome, this test can provide valuable information.
For those diagnosed with or suspected of having alpha-gal syndrome, this test can help guide dietary choices and management strategies. Alpha-gal testing can provide information about potential allergens to avoid and maintain your health. Always consult with a health care professional before making any dietary modifications.
1. Alpha-gal Syndrome. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Accessed May 28, 2025. https://www.thermofisher.com/allergy/us/en/allergen-fact-sheets/alpha-gal-syndrome.htmlhttps://www.thermofisher.com/allergy/us/en/allergen-fact-sheets/alpha-gal-syndrome.html
2. About Alpha-gal Syndrome. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed May 28, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/alpha-gal-syndrome/about/index.htmlhttps://www.cdc.gov/alpha-gal-syndrome/about/index.html
<p>1. Alpha-gal Syndrome. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Accessed May 28, 2025. <a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/allergy/us/en/allergen-fact-sheets/alpha-gal-syndrome.html" target="_blank" title="gal-syndrome" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.thermofisher.com/allergy/us/en/allergen-fact-sheets/alpha-gal-syndrome.htmlhttps://www.thermofisher.com/allergy/us/en/allergen-fact-sheets/alpha-gal-syndrome.html</a></p> <p>2. About Alpha-gal Syndrome. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed May 28, 2025. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/alpha-gal-syndrome/about/index.html" target="_blank" title="alpha-gal-syndrome" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.cdc.gov/alpha-gal-syndrome/about/index.htmlhttps://www.cdc.gov/alpha-gal-syndrome/about/index.html</a></p>
Simply purchase this test online. A healthcare provider will review and approve your test requests; no healthcare provider visit is required.
Visit a Labcorp location near you for sample collection. Visits may be scheduled online.
View your easy-to-read results online in your Labcorp Patient™ account, including Linked Accounts. For certain results that require prompt attention, you will also be contacted by phone or mail.
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Consider getting tested if you've experienced unexplained allergic reactions, especially after eating red meat, or if you've recently been bitten by a tick or been in a tick-prone environment.
Note: This test is not for those with severe allergic reactions. If you've had a serious reaction, consult a healthcare provider or allergist immediately.
Alpha-gal syndrome is typically tested through a blood test to detect specific antibodies related to the alpha-gal molecule. This test measures the levels of alpha-gal antibodies in your blood to help determine if you are sensitized to this allergen.
Symptoms can vary from person to person. Some people may not experience symptoms and may not realize they have alpha-gal syndrome.
However, people with alpha-gal syndrome typically don't have symptoms immediately after consuming red meat. Symptoms of an alpha-gal allergic reaction usually occur about 3 to 6 hours after exposure.
Common alpha-gal symptoms can include:
Alpha-gal syndrome may also cause a serious, potentially life-threatening reaction (called anaphylaxis), which can include symptoms such as:
Note: This test is not for those with severe allergic reactions. If you've had a serious reaction, consult a healthcare provider or allergist immediately. IgE testing alone cannot diagnose allergies. Discuss results with a healthcare professional before making any dietary changes or diagnoses.
Alpha-gal syndrome can potentially be resolved over time in some individuals. However, the timeline for this varies greatly from person to person. It's important to note that even if the allergy seems to have subsided, it can potentially return, especially after another tick bite. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet or management plan for alpha-gal syndrome.
Your testing will be performed in a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory. Labcorp provides leading-edge medical laboratory tests and services through a national network of primary clinical laboratories and specialty testing laboratories. Our labs perform regular quality assurance testing to ensure our results are accurate.
Your results will be provided to you through our secure online portal to view or print. Results are also made available through a secure portal to the independent healthcare provider who placed your test order. If you are accessing your results through your Labcorp Patient™ account, all users linked to the account will have access to all OnDemand test results. Results may also be provided to a local, state, and/or federal health authority; for example, many states require the testing laboratory and physician to report test results for certain communicable diseases, such as COVID-19, to local or state health departments.
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Visit the Labcorp OnDemand® website to browse and purchase laboratory tests and create your Labcorp Patient™ account to view your results. All Labcorp OnDemand testing requires an order from an authorized healthcare professional. For your convenience, Labcorp OnDemand has contracted with independent professional entities (collectively, Providers) to deliver healthcare provider services. Visit a Labcorp location for sample collection; or, if using an at-home collection kit, collect your sample yourself. We’ll let you know when your results are ready and can be accessed through your Labcorp Patient™ account.
