Blood draw
Celery allergy (IgE celery)
Measures IgE antibodies against proteins in celery. For anyone with symptoms after celery or dishes with herb mixes, often together with hay fever.
€ 36,00
All tests
Allergy and intolerance · Blood
IgE antibodies celery
Antibodies against celery protein; shows whether the immune system is sensitive to celery, not whether you get symptoms from it.
At a glance
- Measured in blood
- In 1 test panel
- No special preparation
Explanation
IgE antibodies celery: what is measured?
Celery comes as leaf celery, stalk celery and celeriac and is eaten raw, cooked and dried as a spice. It is often hidden in herb and spice mixes; celery must be listed as an allergen on food packaging. Unlike with many fruits, the allergen survives heating, so cooked celery can also cause symptoms. This test measures the amount of IgE antibodies against the proteins in celery in the blood, in kU/l. The body only makes these antibodies after it has previously been in contact with the allergen; this is called sensitization.
What can it detect?
- Sensitization to celery: the body has made IgE antibodies against celery
- Support in working out a suspected allergy to celery, together with the history of the symptoms
- A possible explanation for symptoms after eating celery in people with hay fever from birch or mugwort pollen
Result
What does the result mean?
IgE antibodies celery too high
A value above the cut-off means that you have IgE antibodies against celery: sensitization. That is not the same as an allergy. According to Stichting Voedselallergie, celery allergy often goes together with an allergy to birch pollen and mugwort pollen, the birch-mugwort-celery syndrome, and there are cross-reactions with spices such as anise, cumin, coriander, pepper and parsley. Symptoms can stay limited to itching in the mouth, but celery causes severe reactions more often than other vegetables. In case of doubt, an allergist can have antibodies against individual celery proteins measured; according to the Dutch medical specialists' guideline (FMS), this sometimes finds more allergies than this test. The level of the value says little about how severe a reaction would be.
IgE antibodies celery too low
A value below the cut-off means that no IgE antibodies against this allergen were found. An IgE-mediated allergy to this allergen is then much less likely, although it is not completely ruled out. Symptoms can also come from another allergen that was not tested, or have a non-allergic cause.
After an abnormal result
The GP mainly looks at the history: which symptoms, when and where they occur and after contact with what. With a positive result and matching symptoms, advice usually follows to limit contact with the allergen and, if needed, medication. With a severe reaction, in case of doubt or with symptoms that are not brought under control this way, a referral to an allergist, pediatrician, ENT specialist or lung specialist may follow.
Reliability
How reliable is the test?
A positive IgE result shows sensitization, not allergy: it only says that there are antibodies, not that you get symptoms from them. The Dutch medical specialists' guideline (FMS) on upper airway allergy says this literally and recommends choosing a test for single allergens based on the history of the symptoms; for food allergy, the FMS guideline on food challenge testing calls the history of the symptoms the cornerstone of diagnosis and a food challenge in hospital the gold standard. The result therefore only means something if it fits when, where and after contact with what you get symptoms. A positive result without symptoms is not treated.
What can affect the result?
- Sensitization without symptoms is common; the result can only be interpreted together with the history of the symptoms.
- Related allergens can recognize each other's antibodies (cross-reaction), for example pollen and nuts or fruit; a positive result then does not mean that this particular allergen causes the symptoms.
- The test measures all proteins from the allergen source together; testing for individual proteins (components) can say more in case of doubt.
- Laboratories use different measurement methods and cut-off values; results from different labs cannot be compared one to one.
Who it is for
Who is the test useful for?
Useful for
Useful with a clear reaction shortly after eating celery or a dish with an herb or spice mix, such as hives, swelling, abdominal symptoms or shortness of breath. With only mild itching in the mouth after raw celery in someone with hay fever, no testing is needed, according to Thuisarts.nl. In people who eat celery normally without symptoms, the test adds nothing.
How common is it?
How often celery allergy occurs in the Netherlands is not known. Stichting Voedselallergie mentions about 0.45 in 100 people in Europe, based on the German Paul-Ehrlich-Institut.
Stichting Voedselallergie; there is no Dutch prevalence figure
Get tested
IgE antibodies celery: test panels
IgE antibodies celery is part of these test panels. You order online and have your blood drawn at a collection point or collect the sample at home.
Evidence
Sources
This explanation is based on Dutch guidelines and independent information. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal result with your GP.
More about risks and results- NVKC, allesovertesten.nl: Allergie (RAST)
- FMS Richtlijnendatabase: Allergie van de bovenste luchtwegen, module Aanvullende diagnostiek
- FMS Richtlijnendatabase: Voedselprovocatie, module Plaatsbepaling diagnostiek voedselallergie
- Thuisarts.nl: Ik heb allergie
- NHG-Standaard Voedselovergevoeligheid en coeliakie (M47)
- Stichting Voedselallergie: Selderij
- Thuisarts.nl: Ik krijg jeuk of een branderig gevoel in mijn mond of keel door sommige groenten, fruit of noten
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