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Is There A Blood Test To Detect What You Are Allergic To?

Medically Approved by Dr. Edward Salko

Table of Contents

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), over 50 million Americans suffer from an allergic reaction of some kind.

Allergies are one of the most common chronic diseases that pertain to the body’s immune system.  Usually, our immune systems work to destroy bacteria, viruses, and various other infectious elements. However, with an allergy, the body’s immune system treats a substance as a threat and, as a result, causes an allergic reaction as a countermeasure.

What are Allergens?

Allergens refer to substances that cause an allergic reaction. There are several allergens, such as dust, pollen, certain medicines, and types of food, that cause varying symptoms.

While the symptoms can be as insignificant as a stuffy nose or sneezing, they can also be far more serious, life-threatening conditions, referred to as anaphylactic shock. So if you have frequent bouts of abnormalities and are unsure of what’s causing them, it is important to test your blood.

What are Allergy Blood Tests?

Allergy blood tests are highly accurate and safe and are used to determine if an individual has allergies of any kind.

To fight off the threat from an allergen, the immune system produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). So blood tests calculate the amount of allergen-specific antibodies in your blood by measuring the level of immunoglobulin E (IgE). While a lower level of IgE antibodies is normal, a higher level may signify an allergy.

The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to ensure you avoid allergens that cause them. This is why an allergy blood test is essential if you do experience symptoms of any kind. It equips you with the information you need to seek treatment so that you can lead a normal, healthy life.

The Most Accurate Blood Tests for Allergies

Personalabs is a trusted health care company with a nation-wide presence. Our focus is rooted in providing Americans with access to over 400 safe and affordable blood and lab tests.

The purpose of this guideline is to help you understand the most common types of allergens and their resulting symptoms so that, if in doubt, you can have a quick blood test done and seek appropriate treatment at the earliest.

Food Allergy

While food allergies typically surface during childhood, they can develop at any age. Those who have a family history of food allergies are considered more prone to developing them.
In the U.S, the most common types of food allergies are:

  • Milk
  • Peanuts
  • Egg
  • Soy
  • Wheat
  • Fish
  • Shellfish (crustaceans)

Though symptoms can range from mild to severe, the degree of seriousness can vary from time to time. A food that causes only minor symptoms on one occasion can trigger an acute reaction at another point. So regardless of the type of reaction, it’s important you get it diagnosed.

Symptoms include:

  • Vomiting or abdominal cramps
  • Rash and hives
  • Coughing
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Swelling of the tongue and/or throat
  • Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or wheezing
  • Weak pulse
  • Dizziness and/or fainting

At Personalabs, we have an extensive range of blood tests that determine if you have specific food allergies. Among them, our comprehensive evaluations include:

Insects Allergy

Both biting and stinging insects can cause allergic reactions. Bees, hornets, fire ants, wasps, and yellow jackets are some of the most common culprits. When they sting, they inject a harmful substance into the body. How each person reacts to the venom is subjective. So while recovery can be anywhere from a few hours to days for some, for others, it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms include:

  • Vomiting and/or stomach cramps
  • Swelling, hives, itchiness, and redness in the area stung or beyond
  • Severe nausea and/or diarrhea
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Swelling of lips, tongue or throat – difficulty swallowing
  • Dizziness or a drop in blood pressure
  • Cardiac arrest or a loss of consciousness

At Personalabs, our Allergen Profile for Stinging Insects Blood Test is an acute test that calculates the amount of IgE antibodies to determine if you are allergic to stinging insects.

Pets Allergy

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), about 10% of the American population is allergic to household pets. While dog allergies are common enough, cat allergies account for double that statistic. And about 1 in every 7 kids between the ages of 6 to 19 years suffers from some form of pet allergy. Dogs and cats shed tiny flecks of skin, called ‘dander’, which can trigger allergic reactions in some people.

Symptoms include:

  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Red, itchy, or watery eyes
  • Skin hives or rash
  • Frequent sneezing bouts
  • Coughing and/or tightest of chest
  • Wheezing and shortness of breath

At Personalabs, we have three types of tests that determine if you are allergic to dogs and/or cats, including:

Pollen Allergy

Commonly referred to as hay fever or ‘allergic rhinitis’, pollen allergies are one of the most common and affect 40 to 60 million people in the US.

Symptoms include:

  • Itchy eyes, nose, mouth, or skin
  • Red and watery eyes and/or swelling around the eyes
  • Stuffy or runny nose
  • Frequent sneezing bouts
  • Nasal blockage or congestion that causes difficulty sleeping

Our Allergen Profile-Mugwort Pollen Related Blood Test will determine if you have an allergy that pertains to pollen from apples, celery, kiwi, and mugwort trees.

Latex Allergy

Though exposure to synthetic latex doesn’t cause allergic reactions, contact with products made from natural latex can. Latex is the natural rubber product that comes from the sap of the rubber plant. It is used in many consumer products, which include rubber bands, handbags, rubber toys, bandages, balloons, disposable gloves, tires, and a lot more.

Symptoms include:

  • Wheezing and difficulty breathing
  • Hives and itchiness
  • Stuffy or runny nose
  • Fall in blood pressure

At Personalabs, our Latex Specific IgE Allergy Blood Test is a safe and highly efficient test that calculates the amount of IgE antibodies in the blood to determine if a person suffers from a latex allergy.

Mold Allergy

Mold allergies are tough to avoid because fungus can grow in undetected places of your home and workspace. In the US., there are approximately 1,000 different species of mold, and several of them are invisible to the naked eye.

Symptoms include:

  • Dry, itchy, scaly skin
  • Irritated eyes
  • Coughing and/or itchy throat
  • Runny or congested nose
  • Frequent sneezing
  • Wheezing

For those who feel they might be allergic to mold, our Allergen Profile Mold Blood Test will help determine if your immune system causes particular antibodies to react to different species of molds.

Drug or Medicine Allergy

Though not as common, people who have overly sensitive immune systems can experience an adverse reaction to certain types of medicines. People who suffer from this allergy will react to the drug irrespective of the form it is consumed in, be it a pill, liquid, or injection.

Some common causes of drug allergies include:

  • Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Antibiotics that comprise sulfonamides (sulfa medicines)
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Drugs containing penicillin
  • Chemotherapy medicines

Symptoms include:

  • Skin hives or rash
  • Swelling of the mouth and/or throat
  • Diarrhea, nausea, and/or vomiting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Shortness of breath and wheezing
  • Low blood pressure
  • Feeling faint

With over 400 blood and labs tests to choose from, we at Personalabs are your one-stop-shop solution. So if you feel you have an allergy to any medicine and are unsure of how to proceed, simply give us a call and our specialists will advise you on the blood test that’s most suitable.

What does an Allergy Blood Test Entail?

With more than 2,300 Quest service centers in the country, at Personalabs, convenience is everything. You may order your tests online and visit any one of our partner locations without having to check your insurance coverage or consult with your doctor.

One of our highly experienced healthcare professionals will collect a small sample of your blood. Once tested, we deliver the results directly to you within 10 business days.

Results

In case your results indicate an allergy, your doctor or allergy specialist will recommend a treatment plan that will depend on the nature and severity of your allergy.

If you don’t have a personal physician, you can consult with one of our highly qualified doctors through our telemedicine service, either before or after the blood test, regarding any queries.

At Personalabs, we provide you with simple, fast, accessible, and affordable solutions that will help you seek the right treatment regardless of the type of allergy.

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