Black Pepper Allergy Blood Test

This test measures a person's allergic reaction to black pepper.  Black pepper is a common spice that is made from dried and ground berries (peppercorns) from the Piper Nigrum plant.  A variety of dishes and food products are seasoned with black pepper so those who are allergic to it will need to be cautious about checking the ingredients of what they eat, especially if they have a more severe allergic reaction.  People who are allergic to black peppercorns may also be allergic to green and white peppercorns since they are all fruit from the same plant.  Allergy symptoms can develop anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours after ingestion.  Common symptoms include tingling in the mouth, hives, itching, rash, swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing, flushed skin, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.  A severe allergic reaction can sometimes cause anaphylaxis which may be life-threatening. 

Food allergies are caused by a reaction in the body's immune system.  The body identifies certain substances as harmful and produces IgE antibodies against them.  These antibodies trigger the release of histamine which causes the symptoms of an allergic reaction.  The severity of the allergy will vary from one person to the next.  Blood allergy testing provides numerical results for IgE antibody levels to help determine how severe a reaction a person will have.  Positive allergy test results should be discussed with a person's doctor to determine the appropriate follow-up.

Allergy testing is typically ordered when a person experiences symptoms of an allergic reaction after eating a particular food.  For more testing options, please see our Allergy Testing Category. 

Results for this test typically take 3-5 business days