Blood testing for allergies

Accurately identify allergy triggers for targeted symptom management

A blood allergy test, also called a specific IgE test, is a powerful diagnostic tool that measures the concentration of specific IgE antibodies in the blood.1 It can test for hundreds of allergic triggers, such as pollen, mold, food and animal dander with one blood sample. 

Any detectable level of specific IgE indicates that you are sensitized to that allergen. Even a low level can be significant, especially if you experience symptoms when exposed to the allergen. The opposite can also be true. You might have a detectable level of IgE to an allergen, but if you don't show symptoms when exposed, you're not considered clinically allergic.

So, what does that mean? It means if you aren’t sure what are causing symptoms, a specific IgE blood test may help your healthcare provider rule in or rule out allergies. The results of a blood allergy test, a detailed medical history, and a physical examination will help a healthcare provider develop a customized treatment plan for your specific allergic triggers and their symptoms. And even if a clinical allergy isn't diagnosed, that's still some powerful information for a healthcare provider to use to help address symptoms.

Woman playing tug-o-war on the shore with her dog

A powerful, diagnostic tool

Watch this short video to learn more about how a specific IgE blood test is a powerful tool that can help your healthcare provider determine an accurate allergy diagnosis.

Talk to your healthcare provider about specific IgE blood testing.

This questionnaire will summarize your symptoms and guide a productive conversation to determine if specific IgE blood testing is right for you.

Start the allergy symptom questionnaire

Benefits of Blood Testing for Allergies

Ready to find out if your symptoms are because of allergies or something else? Allergy symptoms can often mimic symptoms from non-allergic sources (cold, flu, gastrointestinal diseases, etc.). A specific IgE blood test can help your healthcare provider get to the bottom of what may be causing your symptoms. 


Reliable

Specific IgE blood testing gives consistently accurate results. This accurate determination of one or many allergen sensitizations can help your healthcare provider prescribe appropriate medication, such as antihistamines or emergency medication, and create a custom plan for managing allergy symptoms. 


Accessible

Anyone experiencing allergy-like symptoms can receive specific IgE blood testing.  It can be done regardless of age, skin condition, antihistamine use and pregnancy.1-2


Safe and quick

Unlike skin-prick testing, there's no risk that a blood allergy test will trigger an allergic reaction. This is especially important if an individual is at a higher risk for a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. For infants and young children, a single needle prick for a blood sample may be less traumatic than the repeated scratching of a skin-prick test. 


Extensive

With a single blood sample, a specific IgE blood test can screen potential allergic sensitizations from a selection of more than 500 whole allergens, allergen components, and allergen mixes—such as pollens, foods and animal dander. Identifying relevant allergens that contribute to symptoms is necessary for giving comprehensive allergen avoidance advice and keeping those who are allergic below their symptom threshold. 


Detailed

Blood testing can detect various levels of allergen sensitization. Blood allergy test results can help a healthcare provider discover hidden risks, such as allergic reactions caused by cross-reactivity. Symptoms may have different originating allergen triggers or protein families, requiring tailored treatment strategies. 

Learn more about how specific IgE tests differ from other allergy testing options.

Learn more

Types of blood allergy tests

Two types of specific IgE blood tests can aid in allergy diagnosis:

Whole allergen testing

Whole allergen tests can help identify allergic triggers and help rule an allergy in or out.1

Specific IgE testing for whole allergens is used to help confirm a suspected allergy, determine the cause of reactions or rule out an allergy altogether. 

Allergen component testing

Allergen component tests can help pinpoint the allergenic proteins causing symptoms.3

Specific IgE testing for allergen components helps to identify the specific proteins that may cause reactions. Instead of only knowing that an individual is sensitized to peanuts, a blood test can precisely identify which specific protein within the peanut may trigger a reaction. Knowing the specific protein can help a healthcare provider determine if there may be a risk for a more severe systemic reaction or a mild, localized reaction.

How to get an allergy test
Mother and daughter at playground | Seasonal allergies

How do you get tested for allergies?

By helping reveal your allergies and determining which proteins you are sensitized to, allergy blood testing can help confirm your triggers and inform an allergy management plan.

Talk to your healthcare provider today to begin your allergy diagnosis journey and find relief. 

When to get an allergy test

There are specific times during the year when seasonal allergies are at their worst, but there are plenty of other year-round allergies (including food) that can be a problem at any given time. Anytime you are experiencing symptoms that you suspect might be allergy-related, that's an appropriate time to talk with your provider.

What to do after receiving a test

Your healthcare provider will receive results from your specific IgE blood test and will use those to help determine if a clinical allergy diagnosis is warranted. If allergies are diagnosed, your provider will develop a customized treatment plan for your specific allergic triggers and their symptoms.

For healthcare providers.

Help your patients find answers.

When a patient’s symptoms and clinical presentation offer a wide range of diagnostic possibilities, such as an IgE-mediated allergy, test results can be valuable in helping confirm the diagnosis. Together with the case history, serological testing can help bring clarity to an uncertain diagnosis by providing clear results that are easy to interpret and explain to patients.

From ordering a specific IgE test to interpreting results, we have the resources you need to feel confident in your allergy diagnosis.

Respiratory allergies and specific IgE blood testing
Healthcare provider listens to patient describe their allergy symptoms
  1. Siles RI, Hsieh FH. Allergy blood testing: A practical guide for clinicians. Cleve Clin J Med. 2011 Sep;78(9):585-92. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.78a.11023. PMID: 21885690.Bonnelykke K, Pipper CB, Bisgaard H. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008;121(3):646-651.
  2. Pali-Schöll I, Namazy J, Jensen-Jarolim E. Allergic diseases and asthma in pregnancy, a secondary publication. World Allergy Organ J. 2017 Mar 2;10(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s40413-017-0141-8. PMID: 28286601; PMCID: PMC5333384.
  3. A WAO - ARIA - GA²LEN consensus document on molecular-based allergy diagnostics.  Canonica, Giorgio Walter et al.  World Allergy Organization Journal, Volume 6, 17.
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