IgE Food Allergy Advanced Test - Serum

Food allergens are substances present in foods that can trigger an allergic reaction when they are consumed, including commonly eaten foods such as nuts (peanuts and tree nuts), milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. Elevated levels of IgE can be observed when the body overreacts to these typically harmless foods.  This type of allergic reaction can result in a wide range of symptoms from mild (sneezing, runny nose, congestion) to severe and potentially life-threatening (anaphylaxis).  

MosaicDX’s IgE Food Allergy Panels are blood-based (serum) tests that focus on specific food allergens to assess the levels of IgE antibodies to help identify the source of the allergy. MosaicDX offers both the Basic (26 foods) and Advanced (92 foods) IgE Food Allergy Panels that assess for food allergen specific IgE antibodies across several clinically important groups: Dairy, Legumes, Fruit, Grains, Fish/Seafood, Meat, Nuts and Seeds, Vegetables, and Miscellaneous.

Understanding IgE Reactions

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) allergic reactions are known as Type 1 or immediate hypersensitivity reactions that occur when an individual encounters a triggering substance. As a normal component of the immune system, IgE is usually present in small amounts in the human body; however, exposure to various allergens such as microbes, foods, and environmental substances can trigger an IgE response.

When exposure to an allergen occurs, the immune system reacts with a robust production of IgE antibodies which bind to and activate specialized white blood cells – mast cells and basophils – which are located throughout the body though present in higher numbers in the skin, respiratory and digestive tracts. This in turn leads to the release of histamine and other inflammatory chemicals which can result in a wide array of symptoms –  from hives and rashes to allergic rhinitis, and in severe cases, anaphylaxis. Serum IgE tests measure IgE antibody levels in the blood, and the risk of severe reactions is assumed to increase with higher levels of IgE. Given that, elevated levels of IgE antibodies indicate that a patient may experience physiological effects from inhaling environmental allergens to which they are sensitive.

Why Test Food Allergen Specific IgE Antibodies?

Testing for food allergen specific IgE antibodies provides clinicians with a tool to identify, treat, and monitor the effectiveness of food allergy management in patients. As an example, the findings provided on MosaicDX’s IgE Food Allergy Panels could be used to create personalized treatment plans for dietary allergen elimination to alleviate symptoms triggered by identified foods.

While elevated levels of food allergen specific IgE antibodies can indicate increased sensitivity to a particular food, it is important to note that having measurable IgE for a particular allergen does not guarantee that a patient will have allergy symptoms when exposed to it – or predict the severity of their allergic symptoms. Some individuals may have high levels of IgE antibodies and never experience symptoms when eating a certain food, while others may have lower IgE antibodies and experience a severe reaction. Given that, clinical correlation of a patient’s test results with their medical history and symptoms is always warranted.

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