Sign in →

Test Code WEGG Whole Egg, IgE, Serum


Ordering Guidance


For a listing of allergens available for testing, see Allergens - Immunoglobulin E (IgE) Antibodies.



Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL for every 5 allergens requested

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.


Useful For

Establishing a diagnosis of an allergy to whole egg

 

Defining the allergen responsible for eliciting signs and symptoms

 

Identifying allergens:

-Responsible for allergic response and/or anaphylactic episode

-To confirm sensitization prior to beginning immunotherapy

-To investigate the specificity of allergic reactions to insect venom allergens, drugs, or chemical allergens

Method Name

Fluorescence Enzyme Immunoassay (FEIA)

Reporting Name

Whole Egg, IgE

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

For 1 allergen: 0.3 mL
For more than 1 allergen: (0.05 mL x number of allergens) + 0.25 mL deadspace

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Frozen  90 days

Reference Values

Class

IgE kU/L

Interpretation

0

<0.10

Negative

0/1

0.10-0.34

Borderline/equivocal

1

0.35-0.69

Equivocal

2

0.70-3.49

Positive

3

3.50-17.4

Positive

4

17.5-49.9

Strongly positive

5

50.0-99.9

Strongly positive

6

≥100

Strongly positive

Reference values apply to all ages.

Interpretation

Whole egg includes proteins and potential allergens from both egg white and egg yolk. Egg white is generally more allergenic than egg yolk. Clinical reactions to egg are predominantly IgE-mediated immediate reactions characterized by atopic dermatitis, urticarial (hives), angioedema, vomiting, diarrhea, rhinoconjunctivitis, and asthma. Children with atopic dermatitis may have an immediate exacerbation of symptoms or a delayed reaction causing a worsening of their dermatitis 1 to 2 days after exposure to egg. Eosinophilic esophagitis as a result of allergy to egg has been described. Egg white is often responsible for the early development of urticaria and eczema during infancy.

 

In egg yolk, alpha-livetin (Gal d 5) is the major allergen and allergenicity to Gal d 5 is involved in bird-egg syndrome characterized egg intolerance in adults is due to sensitization by inhalation of bird dander. In these cases, there is secondary sensitization or cross-reactivity with serum albumin in egg yolk (Gal d 5) resulting in potential respiratory symptoms including asthma or rhinitis with bird exposure and additional allergic symptoms to egg.

 

Table of Major Egg Allergens

Egg white allergen

Common name

Heat-and Digestion Stability

Allergenic activity

Gal d 1

Ovomucoid

Stable

+++ (major allergen)

Gal d 2

Ovalbumin

Unstable

++

Gal d 3

Ovotransferrin/conalbumin

Unstable

+

Gal d 4

Lysosyme

Unstable

++

Egg yolk allergen

 

 

 

Gal d 5

Alpha-livetin, serum albumin

Partially stable

 

Gal d 6

YGP42, a lipoprotein

Stabile

 

 

Detection of IgE antibodies in serum (class 1 or greater) indicates an increased likelihood of allergic disease as opposed to other etiologies and defines the allergens that may be responsible for eliciting signs and symptoms.

 

The level of IgE antibodies in serum varies directly with the concentration of IgE antibodies expressed as a class score or kU/L.

Clinical Reference

1. Homburger HA, Hamilton RG: Allergic diseases. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 23rd ed. Elsevier; 2017:1057-1070

2. Caubet JC, Wang J: Current understanding of egg allergy. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2011;58(2):427-xi. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2011.02.014

3. Shin M, Han Y, Ahn K: The influence of the time and temperature of heat treatment on the allergenicity of egg white proteins. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2013 Mar;5(2):96-101. doi: 10.4168/aair.2013.5.2.96.

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

86003

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
WEGG Whole Egg, IgE 7291-8

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
WEGG Whole Egg, IgE 7291-8

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

Same day/1 to 3 days

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send an Allergen Test Request (T236) with the specimen.