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Test ID PEAN Peanut, IgE, Serum


Ordering Guidance


For a listing of allergens available for testing, see Allergens - Immunoglobulin E (IgE) Antibodies.



Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL for every 5 allergens requested

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.


Useful For

Establishing a diagnosis of an allergy to peanut

 

Defining the allergen responsible for eliciting signs and symptoms

 

Identifying allergens:

-Responsible for allergic response and/or anaphylactic episode

-To confirm sensitization prior to beginning immunotherapy

-To investigate the specificity of allergic reactions to insect venom allergens, drugs, or chemical allergens

Method Name

Fluorescence Enzyme Immunoassay (FEIA)

Reporting Name

Peanut, IgE

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

For 1 allergen: 0.3 mL
For more than 1 allergen: (0.05 mL x number of allergens) + 0.25 mL deadspace

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Frozen  90 days
  Ambient  7 days

Clinical Information

Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies in the United States, with an estimated prevalence of approximately 1% to 2%.(1) The clinical symptoms of peanut allergy may range from relatively mild, such as rhinorrhea, pruritus, or nausea, to a systemic and potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. The diagnosis of peanut allergy is based upon the presence of compatible clinical symptoms in the context of peanut exposure, with support from identification of potential peanut-specific IgE allergen antibodies, either by skin testing or in vitro serology testing.

 

In vitro serology testing has generally focused on assessing for the presence of total peanut IgE antibodies. These antibodies are identified by immunoassay in which the capture allergen is an extract prepared from natural peanut raw material. Most studies have demonstrated a correlation between the amount of total peanut IgE allergen antibody present and an increased likelihood of a clinical allergic response.

 

Clinical manifestations of immediate hypersensitivity (allergic) diseases are caused by the release of proinflammatory mediators (histamine, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins) from IgE-sensitized effector cells (mast cells and basophils) when cell-bound IgE antibodies interact with allergen.

 

Once an elevated antibody response to total peanut IgE extract is established, assessment for the presence of specific IgE antibodies to the most common individual peanut allergenic components may be considered.

Reference Values

Class

IgE kU/L

Interpretation

0

<0.10

Negative

0/1

0.10-0.34

Borderline/equivocal

1

0.35-0.69

Equivocal

2

0.70-3.49

Positive

3

3.50-17.4

Positive

4

17.5-49.9

Strongly positive

5

50.0-99.9

Strongly positive

6

≥100

Strongly positive

Reference values apply to all ages.

Cautions

Results from peanut specific IgE antibody testing must be interpreted in the context of patient's clinical evaluation and history of allergen exposures.

 

Negative results for IgE to total peanut and any peanut components do not completely exclude the possibility of clinically relevant allergic responses upon exposure to peanut. Clinical correlation of results from in vitro IgE testing with patient history of allergic or anaphylactic responses to peanut is recommended.

 

Positive results for IgE to total peanut or any peanut components are not diagnostic for peanut allergy, and only indicate that the patient may be sensitized to peanut or a cross-reactive allergen. It is recommended to correlate results from in vitro IgE testing with patient history of allergic or anaphylactic responses to peanut.

 

Testing for IgE antibodies may not be useful in patients previously treated with immunotherapy to determine if residual clinical sensitivity exists, or in patients in whom the medical management does not depend upon identification of allergen specificity.

 

Some patients with significantly elevated concentrations of total peanut IgE antibodies do not have any reaction when administered a peanut oral food challenge. This may be due to the presence of an IgE antibody specific for a nonallergenic protein present within the peanut extract.

 

Furthermore, some individuals with clinically insignificant or no sensitivity to allergens may have detectable levels of IgE antibodies in serum; therefore, results must be interpreted in the clinical context. False-positive results for IgE antibodies may occur in patients with markedly elevated serum IgE (>2500 kU/L) due to nonspecific binding to allergen solid phases.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

Same day/1 to 3 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

86003

NY State Approved

Yes