Total IgE
| Category | Immunology |
|---|---|
| Test background |
This test measures all IgE in the blood. Measurement of total IgE may be helpful in the diagnosis of allergic disease. However, high levels of specific IgE to a single allergen can occur without increase above the normal range for the total IgE levels. A number of conditions cause raised IgE levels in the blood eg atopic eczema, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), parasitic infections, Hyper-IgE syndrome (Job syndrome) etc |
| Clinical Indications |
Allergic disease, Lymphoma, vasculitis (Churg-Strauss), primary immunodeficiency, Myeloma |
| Reference range | Age dependent |
| Sample & container required | Rust/Yellow top |
| Sample volume | Minimum 5ml. Please note additional tubes are required if more than 10 allergens are requested. For component resolved diagnostics testing 1 mL per allergen is required. |
| Turnaround time | 14 days |
| Notes | In food allergy, circulating IgE antibodies may remain undetectable despite a convincing clinical history because these antibodies may be directed towards allergens that are revealed or altered during industrial processing, cooking, or digestion and therefore do not exist in the original food for which the patient is tested. Identical results for different allergens may not be associated with clinically equivalent manifestations, due to differences in patient sensitivities. |