Gluten IgE
The Gluten IgE test measures IgE antibody response to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, in a serum sample. Quest describes it as used alongside other clinical information to help evaluate possible food allergy, not as a standalone diagnosis.
About this test
This test quantifies allergen-specific IgE antibodies to gluten. Quest notes that a positive result indicates IgE sensitization to gluten, not necessarily a food allergy, since many people who show sensitization on this kind of test have no symptoms when they eat the food.
Quest lists this kind of allergen-specific IgE testing as sometimes preferred over skin testing, for example when there is widespread skin disease, recent antihistamine use, an uncooperative patient, or a medical history suggesting skin testing carries risk.
Who might consider this test?
- Because a positive result reflects sensitization rather than a confirmed allergy, a clinician reads it together with history and other findings.
Test details
| Quest code | 2854 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Immunoassay |
| Sample type | 0.3 mL serum |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
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Additional details
What this test looks at
The test reports IgE antibody levels specific to gluten, measured by immunoassay on a 0.3 mL serum sample. Quest also lists this test as Gluten (f79) IgE ImmunoCAP.
How it's often used alongside other tests
Quest states that food-specific IgE results provide evidence of sensitization but cannot alone diagnose a food allergy; diagnosis requires clinical evaluation by a trained medical provider, including a history of reactivity. For that reason, this result is one input a clinician weighs together with the broader clinical picture.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Gluten IgE test measure?
It measures IgE antibodies specific to gluten in a serum sample, using an immunoassay method.
How is the sample collected?
The test uses a 0.3 mL serum sample from a routine blood draw at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Do I need to prepare for this test?
No preparation instructions are listed for this test, though people follow any instructions their ordering clinician provides.
Does a positive result mean I have a gluten allergy?
Not on its own. Quest states that a positive result shows IgE sensitization to gluten, not necessarily a food allergy, and that food-specific IgE results must be combined with clinical evaluation and history to reach a diagnosis.
Why might this test be used instead of skin testing?
Quest lists situations such as widespread skin disease, recent antihistamine use, an uncooperative patient, or a medical history suggesting skin testing risk, as reasons allergen-specific IgE testing like this may be preferred.
How much does the Gluten IgE test cost?
The cash price at Celio Health is $39. That covers the physician's order and sample collection at a Quest patient service center — no insurance is needed and there's no separate doctor's visit to pay for.