IgE Test Template

What are the possible effects of high IgE levels?

The higher the IgE levels, the higher the chance of allergic reactions. The types of allergic reactions and their severity will also depend on how allergic a person is to specific allergens.

Here are examples of allergic reactions:

• Itchy skin
• Dry skin
• Skin rashes
• Hives
• Swelling
• Conjunctivitis
• Rhinitis
• Eczema
• Sore throat
• Tightness in the chest
• Abdominal pain
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Vomiting

An example scenario would be touching the fur of a pet. The person who felt the pet’s fur had an allergic reaction that resulted in itchiness on the skin of their hands, sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes. If a person has asthma, their allergy symptoms will likely be asthma symptoms.

The worst-case allergic reaction is anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction characterized by the person going into shock. In this state, the person’s blood pressure drops to extremely low levels. They will also have a difficult time breathing because their airways will narrow. This requires an epinephrine auto-injector to help combat it.

Another potentially life-threatening allergic reaction is Alpha-Gal Allergy, sometimes referred to as Red Meat Allergy or Tick Bite Allergy. Alpha-Gal is a type of carbohydrate found in pork, beef, venison, etc. It can also be found in cow’s milk and related products. It can even be caused by tick bites, especially from a lone star tick.

What are normal and abnormal IgE levels?

Earlier, we mentioned that what counts as an elevated IgE level will depend on the laboratory analyzing the blood sample.

Generally, the upper limit of normal IgE levels will depend on the patient's age being tested. Here are the typical normal ranges:

• Infants less than a year old: 0 - 15 IU/mL
• Aged 1 to 5 years: 0 - 60 IU/mL
• Aged 6 to 9 years: 0 - 90 IU/mL
• Aged 10 to 15 years: 0 - 200 IU/mL
• Adults: 0 - 100 IU/mL

Any amount that goes beyond the upper limit set by a specific laboratory will be considered abnormal.

Besides looking at any elevated levels of IgE, healthcare professionals need to know the specific types of allergens the patient is aware of and how severe their reactions are to them. These can help professionals determine the best treatment possible for each patient and even create contingency plans for emergency care if a patient has a severe reaction to a particular allergen (like having epinephrine auto-injectors at all times).

When should you administer an IgE Blood Test?

If you have a patient who presents themselves with any of the symptoms we listed above, especially if they’re confirmed to have allergic rhinitis or dermatitis, then it would be best to discuss an IgE Blood Test and have them undergo one with their consent. This is also needed if the person being tested was rushed to the hospital because of anaphylaxis.

It would be best to discuss this first and schedule accordingly because you might need to have them fast or ensure they haven’t taken antihistamines. If you need them to fast or stop taking antihistamines, it would be best to schedule the blood test rather than having them undergo one immediately.

How do you manage and treat allergies?

The management and treatment of allergies will depend on what a person’s allergies are.

Let’s stipulate that a patient has food allergies. To be specific, let’s go with meat allergies. One of the best ways to manage these allergies is to avoid consuming meat products, specifically ones that are confirmed to cause allergic reactions. If the patient has a beef allergy, they should remove beef from their diet plans.

If the patient can’t help themselves because they love eating beef, then as their healthcare professional, you must create a contingency plan, like telling them to take antihistamines or corticosteroids before consuming beef. You can even indicate in their management plan to have an epinephrine auto-injector at all times just in case they suffer an anaphylactic shock.

Patients with allergies can also undergo immunotherapy, specifically by taking allergy shots or by taking Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) allergy tablets as prescribed.

For environmental allergies, people can avoid specific places where their allergies can be triggered, and they can take precautions by wearing masks, gloves, pants, long socks, and long sleeves to protect themselves from exposure.