Allergen, Food, Alpha-Lactalbumin

Also known as: ALPHA-LACT

Clinical Use

Use

The test measures the level of IgE antibodies specific to alpha-lactalbumin, a major protein present in cow's milk. It helps in diagnosing and managing food allergies, particularly to cow's milk. The concentration of allergen-specific IgE is used to assess the probability of an IgE-mediated clinical reaction when exposed to cow's milk proteins. The result should be correlated with the clinical history and in vivo testing for accurate diagnosis. A negative result does not necessarily rule out a clinical allergy.

Special Instructions

Not provided.

Limitations

The correlation between allergen-specific IgE concentrations and the severity of the allergic reaction may not always be direct. Some individuals with low IgE levels might exhibit severe reactions, while others with high levels might have mild or no symptoms. Clinical relevance of IgE levels between 0.10-0.34 kU/L is undetermined and should be interpreted by specialists. A negative test result does not rule out clinical allergy, and correlation with clinical history is essential.

Test Details

FDA Approved

New York Approved

Methodology

Immunoassay (Multitarget Binding Immunoassay)

Biomarkers

Alpha-Lactalbumin

Protein

IgE Level

Concentration / Level • Quantitative (Continuous) (e.g., copies/mL, % expression)

LOINC Codes

Order Codes

7445-0 - A-Lactalb IgE Qn

Result Turnaround Time

1-3 days

Specimen

Serum

Volume

0.5 mL

Minimum Volume

0.25 mL

Container

ARUP Standard Transport Tube

Collection Instructions

Collect using a serum separator tube. Separate serum from cells as soon as possible, or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer to ARUP Standard Transport Tube.