INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC ALLERGEN IgE RESULTS
GENERAL:
Levels in positive sera may not correlate directly with severity of symptoms.
MIXES:
A test mix can be a useful SCREENING test.
A NEGATIVE result on a mix indicates absence or undetectable levels of specific IgE antibodies towards
all the allergens in the mix.
A POSITIVE result indicates the presence of specific IgE antibodies to one or more of the allergens.
Reinvestigation with single allergens is recommended when there is a need to further identify and obtain
a quantitative result.
FALSE POSITIVE results may occur in mixes because cumulative values exceed 0.35 KU/L.
DRUG ALLERGIES:
A NEGATIVE result indicates the absence of antibodies to the drug. Such results can also be found in
patients hypersensitive to drugs when the symptoms are mediated without IgE involvement or the
sample has been collected a long time after the allergic reaction. Such a result can be checked by
collecting a new sample and repeating the test 2 weeks after an allergic reaction.
Samples should be collected from 2 weeks to 6 months after drug exposure.
VENOMS:
UNDETECTABLE levels of circulating venom-specific IgE antibodies do not preclude the existence of
current or future clinical hypersensitivity to insect sting. Samples should be collected from 2 to 3 weeks
or up to 6 months after an insect sting.
FOODS:
In food allergy, circulating IgE antibodies may remain undetectable because these antibodies may be
directed towards allergens that are revealed or altered during industrial processing, cooking, or digestion
and do not exist in the original food.
CELIAC DISEASE:
Gluten allergy is not an IgE mediated allergy. If Celiac Disease is suspected, the Tissue
Transglutaminase test is recommended.