Cat Dander Allergy Blood Test

It s estimated that as many as 3 in 10 people living in the united states are allergic to cats.

Cat dander allergy blood test.

Dander consists of dead skin cells and particles shed by animals. This allergy test uses a blood sample to determine if you are allergic to cat dander. In these cases the doctor will order a blood test. This cat dander allergy test also known as a cat allergy test cat allergy blood test and cat ige test measures the cat dander ige antibody blood level.

A cat allergy is a relatively common issue in which one is allergic to allergens produced by a cat. And check out cat dander. This ige allergy test uses a small blood sample to determine if you are allergic to cat and or dog dander. We have found by field and lab testing that cat dander is present albeit at low levels even in buildings where no cats live.

They re actually allergic to certain proteins in the cat s urine saliva and epithelium dander. Allergy blood tests usually screen for at least 10 of the most common allergy triggers including dust. The allergenic component of cat dander is feline d 1 or fel d1 a glycoprotein that combines with cat dander cat skin flakes. Cat dander ige a healthy result should fall into the range 0 0 1 kunits l.

The blood is then examined for antibodies to common. How to relieve your allergies. The allergist will likely recommend allergen testing and may pursue symptomatic treatment such as antihistamines to reduce discomfort or allergen immunotherapy shots to reduce the severity of reaction upon exposure to cat dander barrack said. How to combat cat dander.

Testing for ige antibodies may be useful to establish the diagnosis of an allergic disease and to define the allergens responsible for eliciting signs and symptoms. Immunoglobulin e ige is an antibody that s strongly linked to the body s allergy response. The most common side effects of these skin tests are itching and redness. Allergies to cats are twice as prevalent as allergies to dogs.

Your doctor or nurse observes your skin for signs of allergic reactions after 15 minutes. Laura richards is a boston based freelance writer and the mother of four boys including a set of identical twins and is also mom to three rescue pets. If you ve been diagnosed with a cat allergy and have a cat don t fret. Blood will be drawn either at the doctor s office or a laboratory and then sent for testing.

People who are allergic to cats aren t allergic to the cat itself.