Learn your IgE reactivity to common food allergens

If you are currently having severe symptoms and think you’re having an allergic reaction, you should seek medical attention right away.

Some people with food allergies may only have mild symptoms. However, others may have a more severe reaction called anaphylaxis, which can lead to tightened airways and difficulty breathing.

Mild symptoms may include:

• Tingling or itching of your face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Hives or skin rash or itchy skin
• Runny nose, sneezing, or congestion
• Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea

Serious symptoms may include:

• Tightening of your airways, wheezing, chest tightness, or being unable to breathe
• Swollen lips, tongue, throat, or sensation of a lump in your throat
• Rapid pulse, dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting

This test may be right for you if you:

• Have experienced mild symptoms but haven’t been diagnosed with a food allergy
• Have a parent or sibling who has a known allergic condition

Food allergies can be a serious, life threatening condition. This test may not be right for you if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to the food allergens in this panel, or if you are trying to determine whether you still have a known food allergy. This test should not be used in any type of food trial without the supervision of a healthcare provider.

A severe allergic reaction might include symptoms such as:

• Tightening of your airways, wheezing, chest tightness, or being unable to breathe
• Swollen lips, tongue, throat, or the sensation of a lump in your throat
• Rapid pulse, dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
• You have had to receive an epinephrine injection after eating one or more of these foods

If you have had a history of severe food allergies or need guidance on whether or not you still have a food allergy, please follow up with your healthcare provider who can evaluate your symptoms and help create a plan that’s right for you.

This test checks an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE) in your blood. When you have a food allergy, and you’re exposed to a food allergen, your immune system releases too much IgE. IgE then causes your body to produce a substance called histamine, resulting in an allergic reaction. IgE antibodies are normally found in small amounts in the blood, but higher amounts can be a sign that your body overreacts to allergens. Around 90% of all food allergies are caused by the foods in the following categories:

• Eggs
• Fish (such as tuna, halibut, or salmon)
• Milk (and dairy)
• Peanuts
• Shellfish (such as shrimp, lobster, or crab)
• Soy
• Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, or walnuts)
• Wheat

This test looks for IgE antibodies to the following foods:

• Almonds
• Cow’s milk
• Egg white*
• Egg yolk*
• Peanuts
• Shrimp
• Soy
• Tuna
• Wheat

You may have a food allergy if you have increased IgE antibodies to these foods, along with allergic symptoms. Only an allergy specialist or healthcare provider can confirm a food allergy by performing additional food allergy tests and reviewing your medical history and symptoms.

*This test checks for IgE reactivity to chicken egg white and chicken egg yolk, and does not test for IgE reactivity to eggs from other animals, such as duck, goose, turkey, or quail.

When your body produces too many IgE antibodies to specific foods, you may be at higher risk of having allergic symptoms. Allergic symptoms differ from person to person and can range from mild to severe and may include:

• Itching
• Hives
• Swelling
• Diarrhea
• Wheezing or anaphylaxis (which can lead to tightened airways and difficulty breathing and potentially be life-threatening*)

*This test is not intended to be taken by anyone who has previously had a severe reaction to the foods on this panel. If you’re having any serious symptoms, please seek medical attention right away.

IgE antibodies detected in your blood do not correlate directly to the symptoms you may experience, but higher IgE antibody levels may mean you have a higher likelihood of having a food allergy. Not all individuals with high IgE reactivity to a particular food will experience an allergic reaction to that food. Similarly, it is possible to have low or negative levels of IgE reactivity and still have a severe allergy to that food. It’s important to share your results with your healthcare provider for use in the food allergy evaluation process.

Testing alone cannot be used to diagnose a food allergy. Your healthcare provider will use your test results, in combination with your symptoms, medical history, family history, and physical exam, to determine the likelihood of a food allergy and the right next steps for evaluation and treatment (e.g., oral immunotherapy).

Let Everlywell get you prepared for a productive and thoughtful conversation with your healthcare provider! With your test results and information about the kinds of questions your healthcare provider will be looking to answer, you’ll be ready to take the next step in understanding if food allergies may be affecting your health.

Your results will tell you the level of IgE reactivity you have to the foods tested.

Abnormal results are not a diagnosis of a food allergy but may mean you need further evaluation. It’s important to share your results with your healthcare provider or an allergy specialist. They will review your results, along with your medical history, signs and symptoms, medications, and any other tests. Only an allergy specialist or healthcare provider can diagnose a food allergy and create a plan that’s right for you.

To help ensure that you understand your test results, one of our registered nurses may contact you. If your results fall within class 1-6 (low to very high reactivity), you will receive a call from one of our registered nurses to discuss your results and next steps within 24 hours of results, Monday through Friday between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm Eastern Time. If you’d like additional information or your results fall outside of that range, you can watch a recorded educational session to learn more about your test and next steps. As always, we encourage you to share your results with your healthcare provider. Only an allergy specialist or healthcare provider can diagnose or rule out a food allergy by performing additional tests and reviewing your medical history and symptoms.

A food allergy is what happens when your immune system mistakes a certain food as a threat to your body (this is then called an “allergen”) and produces IgE antibodies as a result. Food allergies have distinct symptoms, such as itching, hives, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing, and can be serious and life-threatening. The Food Allergy Test results will tell you whether you have IgE reactivity to the food allergens tested. The results of this test may be used, along with your medical history and symptoms, by your allergist or healthcare provider to help create a plan that’s right for you.

Food Sensitivity Tests show IgG antibody reactivity to different foods. IgG and IgE are different types of antibodies. Food sensitivity can cause a wide range of symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, indigestion, and headaches or migraines. These symptoms are generally more delayed in nature than food allergy symptoms. Food sensitivity testing is intended to identify foods in your current diet that might be connected to food sensitivity symptoms. The results can help a person prioritize which foods to consider for a two-part elimination diet.

Everlywell’s Food Allergy Test measures immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody response to 9 common food allergens.

The instruments and methods used by our laboratories are similar to - and often exactly the same as - those used by a doctor’s office. Our at-home sample collection methods, like dried blood spot and saliva, have been widely used for decades. All of the laboratories with whom we partner have performed millions of tests and are considered industry leaders. These labs perform frequent internal quality controls and testing. They are also checked through third-party testing, which validates the accuracy of the lab’s testing. In general, types of food allergy testing include:

• Serology IgE food allergy testing (this test). This blood test checks for an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). The results of this test alone are not enough to diagnose or rule out a food allergy, but where your value falls on the scale of very low to very high may be useful for your healthcare provider in determining next steps. This type of testing can be helpful for individuals who have skin issues such as eczema or for individuals who routinely take antihistamines, given its impact on skin prick testing.
• A skin prick test, where a small amount of food extract is placed on your skin and then lightly pricked. This skin test should be performed under the supervision of an allergy specialist familiar with the tests and trained in emergency treatment options should an anaphylactic reaction occur.
• A physician-supervised oral food challenge, where you eat the food allergen in increasing amounts under the supervision of an allergy specialist. This test should be performed under the supervision of an allergy specialist familiar with the tests and trained in emergency treatment options should an anaphylactic reaction occur. An oral food challenge is the gold standard of food allergy testing.

These tests, along with a detailed medical history, diet, and review of symptoms, help healthcare providers diagnose and confirm a food allergy.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI)