Allergy - Chickpea Test

An IgE test is a blood test done to check whether a person is allergic to a particular substance. An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system overreacts to something, often in the environment, that's harmless to most people. To protect the body from this perceived threat, the immune system of an allergic person produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Because IgE antibodies are unique to each allergen, checking for specific variants in the blood can help determine if an allergy is present. Common allergens that may be tested for by using the allergen-specific IgE test include pollen, mold, dust mites, foods (for instance milk, eggs, or legumes), medications (such as penicillin), insect venom and materials such as latex or animal fur.

It is recommended that you should either wear a sleeve-less or a short-sleeved shirt to make it easier for you and the technician who will be drawing the blood. Wearing a shirt with full- sleeves that can easily be rolled-up is also fine. There is no need to disturb your diet routine before an IgE test. You can eat and drink normally.

The interpretation of the Immunoglobulin E Blood Test value depends on the age of the individual. Elevated levels of specific IgE antibodies may mean an allergy is present. However, the amount of IgE doesn't necessarily predict the severity of the reaction. The normal range for the IgE Blood Test is as follows:

2-3 years: Less than 93 kU/L
10-18 years: Less than 328 kU/L
18 years and older: Less than 127 kU/L

A high value for the IgE Blood Test may indicate atopic or parasitic diseases while a low value may be indicative of hereditary deficiency, ataxia-telangiectasia, acquired immunodeficiency or non-IgE myeloma.

A band is wrapped around the arm, 3-4 inches above the collection site (superficial vein that lies within the elbow pit) A 70% alcohol pad is used to clean the skin A needle is then kept in line with and injected into a vein that can be seen from the skin The blood is dragged out from the needle by a nozzle, saved in a vessel and sealed with your name The sample is then taken to a lab for examination