Are you experiencing symptoms of a shellfish food allergy, such as hives? Our Allergy Screen (Shellfish) Blood Test checks to see if you are allergic to eight commonly eaten shellfish.
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What's in the test?
Immunity
Immunoglobulin E
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Immunoglobulins or antibodies, play an important role in the immune system and help fight against harmful bacteria and viruses in the body. There are five classes of antibodies and several subclasses. In those that have an allergy, their immune system overreacts to a harmless allergen (such as food, grass or animal dander) by producing IgE. This reaction usually causes irritation to the nose, lungs, throat and skin. The allergen-specific IgE antibody test is used to check for an allergy to a specific allergen. It measures the amount of IgE antibody in the blood targeted for a suspected allergen.
How to prepare for your test
Test limitations
Please be aware that allergy blood tests can sometimes produce false positive results, meaning that a positive result does not always indicate an actual allergy to the substance. Maintaining an allergy diary can be a valuable tool in identifying the most likely triggers of your symptoms. Whenever you experience a reaction, make a note of your exposures over the previous 1–2 hours (e.g., foods, toiletries, pets, plants, etc.). We encourage you to include these details in the supporting information section of your test request to enable our doctors to provide the most accurate and informed interpretation of your results.
Reviews
FAQs
Who should take this test?
Our test is ideal as part of an initial investigation screen if you have signs of IgE-mediated allergies, such as hives, redness of the skin, vomiting, and lip or facial swelling, which develop quickly after exposure to a shellfish allergen.
Which shellfish are included?
The shellfish tested are:
- -Clams
- -Crab
- -Crayfish
- -Octopus
- -Lobster
- -Prawn
- -Scallops
- -Squid
What is an Allergy Screen (Shellfish) Blood Test?
Our shellfish allergy screen provides an analysis of eight commonly eaten shellfish which can cause IgE-mediated allergies. You'll also get a total measure of your immunoglobulin E, which is often raised if you have an IgE-mediated allergy.