Allergen, Insects and Venom, Honey Bee IgE
Also known as: HONEY
Use
This test measures allergen-specific IgE levels to evaluate allergic sensitivity to honey bee venom. It provides a quantitative assessment of IgE antibodies which are indicative of allergic reactions. The results help in diagnosing IgE-mediated hypersensitivity, guiding allergy management, and potentially supporting immunotherapy decisions. However, IgE levels do not always correlate with clinical symptoms, thus clinical correlation with in vivo reactivity and patient history is essential. It's particularly useful for patients with a clinical suspicion of honey bee venom allergy.
Special Instructions
Multiple patient encounters should be avoided when preparing for the test. Serum should be separated from cells as soon as possible, preferably within 2 hours of collection. For multiple allergen orders, refer to the 'Allergen Specimen Collection Instructions'.
Limitations
The test specifically measures IgE antibodies and does not provide information on other types of hypersensitivity or allergy mechanisms, like T-cell mediated responses. Negative results do not rule out clinical allergy or anaphylaxis, as some individuals with negative results may still react upon exposure to the allergen. Also, results in the range of 0.10-0.34 kU/L have clinical relevance that is undetermined and should be interpreted cautiously, always considering the full allergic profile of the patient including clinical history and other test results.
FDA ApprovedNew York Approved
Methodology
Immunoassay (Fluorescent Enzyme Immunoassay)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 6844-5
Result Turnaround Time
1-3 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Serum
Volume
0.5 mL
Minimum Volume
0.25 mL
Container
ARUP Standard Transport Tube
Collection Instructions
Collect blood in a serum separator tube. Separate serum from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection.
Patient Preparation
Multiple patient encounters should be avoided.
Storage Instructions
Refrigerated
Causes for Rejection
Hemolyzed, icteric, or lipemic specimens.
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 48 hours |
| Refrigerated | 2 weeks |
| Frozen | 1 year |
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