Total Immunoglobulin E (IgE) test

Your doctor may order a total IgE test if you show persistent or periodic symptoms of an allergy, especially if the allergen is not known. The symptoms of an allergy may involve multiple areas of the body, such as:

• Respiratory system:

  • Sneezing
  • Runny nose or stuffy nose
  • Itchy nose
  • Congestion in the nose
  • Tightness in the chest
  • Cough
  • Wheezing 
  • Fast breathing
  • Shortness of breath
• Skin:
  • Hives (a red, raised, itchy rash)
  • Itching 
  • Mild to severe swelling 
  • Eczema (itchy, inflamed, cracked skin)
• Eyes:
  • Itchy eyes
  • Watery eyes 
  • Redness in the eyes 
• Stomach:
  • Nausea and repeated vomiting
  • Persistent diarrhoea 
  • Abdominal pain
• Other organs:
  • Anxiety
  • Agitation
  • Lip swelling 
  • Swollen tongue
  • Tightness in the throat
  • Trouble speaking
  • Loss of consciousness 
  • Weak pulse

A severe allergic reaction can affect the whole body, resulting in a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis.

Since IgE levels may be increased in parasitic infections, this test is also ordered to screen for parasitic infections.

No special preparation is necessary for this test. Inform your doctor if you are taking any medicines or health supplements.

Your healthcare practitioner will withdraw a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm. He/she will explain to you the steps of the test before it is conducted. The sample will be collected in a container and sent to the laboratory for testing.

The whole procedure does not take more than a few minutes. After the test, you may experience mild pain or bruising at the site of injection - it will fade away on its own after a few days. If the discomfort persists, please inform your doctor.

Normal results:

A normal test result is reported when the level of total IgE in the blood is less than 75 kilo units per litre (kU/L). A normal level of total IgE indicates that the person does not have an allergy, especially if the levels are less than 20 kU/L. However, sometimes, a patient with an allergy may have normal total IgE levels. The levels of IgE may fall in between two consecutive episodes of allergic reaction. Sometimes, a person with an immune disorder may not show high IgE levels in an allergic reaction.

Abnormal results:

A high total IgE level (more than 5000 kU/L) indicates that the person has one or more allergies. The more the number of allergens an individual is sensitive to, the higher the total IgE levels will be in their blood. The doctor may also order an allergen-specific IgE test to identify the substances the person is allergic to.

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.