Chicken Allergy
What is Chicken Allergy Test
The chicken allergy blood test measures the total amount of allergen specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in an individual’s blood. IgE is a type of antibody which is produced by the body’s immune system.Â
A negative immune reaction that occurs after ingesting chicken or its by-products is known as a chicken allergy. Since many egg and chicken allergies are related, some people who have an adverse reaction to eggs also have an adverse reaction to chicken. This is known as bird-egg syndrome. People with this syndrome are allergic to an ingredient known as alpha-livetin found in chicken serum albumin and egg yolk.
Thus, getting a chicken allergy test done is recommended to diagnose allergy to chicken and related products like turkey, eggs etc.
Symptoms of chicken allergy
Difficulty in breathing
Diarrhea
Red patches and rashes
Vomiting
Wheezing
Coughing
Itchy, watery eyes
Stuffy or runny nose
Preparation for the test
No special preparation is required for the chicken allergy test.
There are two different allergy tests:
- A specific IgE blood test: This test is used to measure the IgE antibodies produced by your body in response to chicken meat and related products.
- Elimination diet: You will be advised to remove chicken meat and related products from your diet for a period of one or two weeks and then add the chicken back into your diet. If there are no allergy symptoms during this time and symptoms return when you consume chicken products again, it may indicate a chicken allergy.
Interpretation of results
An allergy is typically indicated by an elevated level of IgE antibodies specific to chicken.
|
Class         |
Levels of specific IgE – Kilo Units per Litre (kU/L) |
Interpretation |
|
0 |
<0.10 |
Negative |
|
0/1 |
0.10-0.31 |
Low/equivocal |
|
1 |
0.32-0.55 |
Low |
|
2 |
0.56-1.40 |
Moderate |
|
3 |
1.41-3.90 |
High |
|
4 |
3.91-19.0 |
Very High |
|
5 |
19.01-100.0 |
Very High |
|
6 |
> or =100 |
Very High |
Deviation from normal levels indicates the following:
- An elevated IgE level is indicative of an allergy to chicken.
- Immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentrations may be elevated in a number of clinical diseases, such as allergic disease, some primary immunodeficiencies, infections, inflammatory diseases, and malignancies.
FAQs
How is the sample collected for a chicken allergy blood test?
A blood sample is collected from a vein in your arm using a small needle. Usually, this process does not take more than 5 minutes.
What are the risks associated with a chicken allergy blood test?
This test involves negligible risk. There might be slight soreness or tenderness around the site where the blood is drawn. Rarely, the site can become infected.
What is the turnaround time (TAT) for the chicken allergy blood test?
Test results of a chicken allergy blood test is usually available within 7 working days after the sample collection. However, it could take longer at times.
How long can the symptoms of a chicken allergy last?
The symptoms of a chicken allergy can last up to several hours. However, most food allergy symptoms are gone within 6 hours after initial exposure to allergen. In some rare circumstances, you might experience a second allergic reaction approximately four hours after the first reaction.
When can an individual develop chicken allergy?
Both adults and children can develop a chicken allergy. Some people may already be displaying allergy symptoms to chicken and its by-products, as early as the age of three.
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