Our Food Allergy Test measures your immune response to some of the most common food allergy triggers including lactose, shellfish and nuts. This test measures Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, which are released by the immune system in response to allergens. Along with your food allergy symptoms and history, this food allergy test will give you a better understanding of your body's reaction to common foods to help guide you to better dietary choices.
Note: This test is not intended for people who have had a serious allergic reaction to the foods listed on this panel. Those who had serious allergic reactions to certain foods should contact a health care provider or an allergist for further evaluation immediately.
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 test should be interpreted in the context of your medical history with a health care provider or an allergist. Results should be shared and discussed with a healthcare professional before making a diagnosis or before removing certain foods from your diet.
Preparation: No special preparation needed.
Egg White, Milk, Wheat, Corn, Codfish, Clam, Shrimp, Scallop, Peanut, Walnut, Soybean, Sesame Seed.
Food allergies are on the rise. Researchers estimate that 32 million Americans suffer from food allergies.³
The most common food allergies in adults are allergies to shellfish, milk, peanut and tree nut.⁶ Knowing which food you may be allergic to is the is the first step to understanding your symptoms.
People who have both food allergies and asthma are at increased risk for severe or fatal food allergy reactions.³
Some people may experience severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis response) to certain foods, which are serious and can be life-threatening.
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. Boyce JA, Assa'ad A, Burks AW, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of food allergy in the United States: report of the NIAID-sponsored expert panel. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 Dec;126(6 Suppl):S1-58. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.10.007.
3. Food Allergy Research & Education. Facts and Statistics. Food Allergy Research & Education website. Accessed December 19, 2022. https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/facts-and-statistics
4. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Food Allergy. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website. Accessed December 19, 2022. https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/food/
5.. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Food Allergy. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology website. Accessed January 6, 2023. https://www.aaaai.org/Conditions-Treatments/Allergies/Food-Allergy
6. Gupta RS, Warren CM, Smith BM, et al. Prevalence and Severity of Food Allergies Among US Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2019 Jan 4;2(1):e185630. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.5630.
<p>1. Waserman S, Bégin P, Watson W. IgE-mediated food allergy. <i>Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol</i>. 2018 Sep 12;14(Suppl 2):55. doi: 10.1186/s13223-018-0284-3.</p> <p>2. Boyce JA, Assa'ad A, Burks AW, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of food allergy in the United States: report of the NIAID-sponsored expert panel. <i>J Allergy Clin Immunol</i>. 2010 Dec;126(6 Suppl):S1-58. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.10.007.</p> <p>3. Food Allergy Research & Education. Facts and Statistics. Food Allergy Research & Education website. Accessed December 19, 2022. <a href="https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/facts-and-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/facts-and-statistics</a></p> <p>4. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Food Allergy. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website. Accessed December 19, 2022. <a href="https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/food/" target="_blank">https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/food/</a></p> <p>5.. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Food Allergy. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology website. Accessed January 6, 2023. <a href="https://www.aaaai.org/Conditions-Treatments/Allergies/Food-Allergy" target="_blank">https://www.aaaai.org/Conditions-Treatments/Allergies/Food-Allergy</a></p> <p>6. Gupta RS, Warren CM, Smith BM, et al. Prevalence and Severity of Food Allergies Among US Adults. <i>JAMA Netw Open</i>. 2019 Jan 4;2(1):e185630. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.5630.</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.
People who are allergic to proteins in specific foods develop IgE (immunoglobulin E) antibodies to those food proteins. 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.
If you suspect a food allergy, share your test results with your health care provider or allergist, who will take your family and medical history, and use this information to determine if a food allergy exists.
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.
