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Dog and Cat Allergy Test

Find out if your allergy symptoms are linked to dogs or cats.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your sneezing or itchy eyes are caused by your furry friends, this blood test can help you get answers. The Dog and Cat Allergy Test measures IgE antibodies, which are proteins your immune system makes when it reacts to certain allergens like pet dander, saliva, or urine.

 

Note: Having measurable IgE for a particular allergen does not guarantee that you will have an allergic reaction when exposed to it. In general, higher IgE levels are associated with a greater chance of having a true allergy but do not predict how severe your allergic symptoms could be.1

 

IgE testing is not considered sufficient to diagnose an allergy on its own.2 Results from this pet allergy test should be interpreted in the context of your symptoms and timing of exposure with a healthcare provider or an allergist. Results should be shared and discussed with a healthcare professional before making an allergy diagnosis.

$ 99.0
$99
Dog and Cat Allergy Test
$ 99.0
$99

Test Details

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Sample Type: Blood
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Collection Method: In person at a Labcorp location
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Age: 18-100
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Results: 2-4 days from when your sample arrives at our lab
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HSA/FSA: Accepted
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Test must be taken by purchaser

Preparation: No special preparation needed.

What's Tested
  • IgE Level to Dog Dander

    Level of immunoglobulin E (IgE), which is a type of antibody produced by the immune system in response to exposure to allergens (substances that can cause an allergic reaction), such as dog dander.

    If the test finds that you are sensitized to dog dander (Dog Dander IgE ≥0.35 kU/L) , further testing is automatically performed (at no additional cost) to find out which specific proteins may be causing your allergy symptoms. These specific proteins can be found in a dog’s dander, saliva or urine. These component tests include Can f 1 IgE, Can f 2 IgE, Can f 3 IgE, Can f 4 IgE, Can f 5 IgE and Can f 6 IgE.

  • IgE Level to Cat Dander

    Level of immunoglobulin E (IgE), which is a type of antibody produced by the immune system in response to exposure to allergens (substances that can cause an allergic reaction), such as cat dander.

    If the test finds that you are sensitized to cat dander (Cat Dander IgE ≥0.35 kU/L), further testing is automatically performed (at no additional cost) to find out which specific proteins may be causing your allergy symptoms. These specific proteins can be found in cat’s dander, saliva or urine. These component tests include  Fel d 1 IgE, Fel d 2 IgE, Fel d 4 IgE and Fel d 7 IgE.

Why Consider This Test

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Curious that you might have a pet allergy?

It can feel overwhelming to try to avoid all possible triggers of your allergy symptoms. Before you consider rehoming or avoiding animals, learn which pet(s) may be causing allergy symptoms. For example, some people are allergic to male dogs but not female dogs.

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Could your pet be the source of your symptoms?

Allergies to cats and dogs affect 10 to 20% of the world’s population.3 This blood-based pet allergy test can help you and your healthcare provider determine if a furry pet is causing allergy symptoms.

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Want answers about allergy symptoms?

This Dog and Cat Allergy Test can help you and your healthcare provider work together on a plan for managing your symptoms, which may include over-the-counter or prescription medications or strategies for avoiding certain allergens.

References:

1. Waserman S, Bégin P, Watson W. IgE-mediated food allergy. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018 Sep 12;14(Suppl 2):55. doi: 10.1186/s13223-018-0284-3.

2. World Allergy Organization. IgE in Clinical Allergy and Allergy Diagnosis. Updated July 2015. Accessed December 19, 2022. https://www.worldallergy.org/education-and-programs/education/allergic-disease-resource-center/professionals/ige-in-clinical-allergy-and-allergy-diagnosis

3. James J. Pet Allergy. Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America. Published June 2022. https://aafa.org/allergies/types-of-allergies/pet-dog-cat-allergies/

How It Works

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Purchase Your Test

Simply purchase this test online. A healthcare provider will review and approve your test requests; no healthcare provider visit is required.

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Provide Your Sample

Visit a Labcorp location near you for sample collection. Visits may be scheduled online.

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Get Your Results

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.

Patient Service Centers

Labs in more than 2,000 locations across the country.

Find a Location Near You
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Frequently Bought Together

FAQ

  • Like other allergy blood tests, the Labcorp OnDemand Dog and Cat Allergy Test can determine whether you are sensitive to dog and cat allergens. But our blood test doesn’t stop there. If the test finds that you’re sensitized to cat or dog allergens, further testing is automatically performed (at no additional cost) to identify the exact proteins within each allergen that may be causing your symptoms.

     

    This deeper look at the proteins within an allergen is called component testing and provides a much clearer picture of your sensitivity to allergens. For example, some people are allergic to unneutered (intact) male dogs but not female or neutered dogs, and this can only be determined by looking more closely at these specific proteins. This level of specificity can help you choose the right pet and can allow you to work with your healthcare provider to develop an effective allergy action plan.

     

    NOTE: If total dog or cat dander IgE antibody is not detected (<0.35 kU/L), no additional component testing will be performed.

  • Individuals with a dog or cat allergy are sensitized to one or more allergens found in the animals’ dander, saliva and urine. If you have a pet allergy, you may experience allergy symptoms when exposed to pet allergens. Symptoms may include:

     

    • Sneezing
    • Runny or stuffy nose
    • Nasal congestion
    • Coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing
    • Watery, red or itchy eyes
    • Skin rash or hives

     

    More serious cases can trigger breathing difficulties and asthma attacks that can result in an emergency room visit.

  • Results from this IgE blood test identify whether you are sensitive to dog or cat allergens and can help your healthcare provider determine whether your symptoms may be caused by sensitivity to dog or cat allergens.

     

    Your test results will show your IgE antibody level to the allergens tested on a scale from negative to very high (numbers ranging from <0.10 to > 100).

     

    If your results are below 0.35 , then you are unlikely sensitized or allergic to that allergen.

     

    The higher the IgE level typically indicates the presence of an allergy, with generally more allergy symptoms when exposed to the specific allergen.

     

    If you are sensitized to these allergens, the test results will also include the specific proteins you’re sensitized to. Share your test results with your healthcare provider or allergist to come up with an allergy action plan and identify strategies to help you avoid the allergen.

  • People who are allergic to specific allergens develop IgE antibodies to those allergens. IgE is a protective blood protein that is produced when you’re exposed to a substance that your body views as a threat. Therefore, measurable IgE may indicate the presence of an allergy.

     

    Pet allergens contain certain proteins in dander (flecks of skin shed by pets), urine, and saliva. If you have a pet allergy, your immune system overreacts to an allergen (cat or dog) by producing IgE antibodies. These antibodies travel to cells that release chemicals, causing an allergic reaction. This reaction usually causes symptoms in the nose, lungs, throat, gut or on the skin.

     

    If you think pets might be triggering your symptoms, this test can provide helpful information to discuss with your healthcare provider or an allergist.

  • 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.

     

    If you have questions or comments regarding the Labcorp Notice of Privacy Practices, or have a complaint about our use or disclosure of your PHI or our privacy practices, please contact: privacyofficer@labcorp.com, call us at (877) 234-4722 (877-23-HIPAA) and ask for the Labcorp HIPAA Privacy Officer, or send a written request to: HIPAA Privacy Officer, Labcorp, 531 South Spring Street, Burlington, NC 27215. You also may file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

  • 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.

  • To align with clinical best practices, we’ve set an age maximum of 100 for consumer-initiated testing. This limit was set to encourage individuals in more advanced age groups - who may have complex medical needs - to receive personalized guidance about testing from their healthcare providers.

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