Carrot Allergy Blood Test

This test measures a person's allergic reaction to carrots.  Carrot allergies are not common but they do affect some people.  People who are allergic to carrots will often have an allergy to other plants with similar pollens including apples, celery, soybeans, and some types of nuts.  Carrots are used in a variety of products including juices, smoothies, soups, stews, marinades, and even some skin products such as lotion or cleansers.  If you have an allergy it is important to check ingredients to ensure you are not putting your health at risk.

Allergy symptoms can develop anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours after ingestion.  Common food allergy symptoms include rash, hives, itching, cough, wheezing, tightening of the throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and lightheadedness.  People with a severe allergy may experience anaphylaxis which can be fatal.   

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.

This test is typically ordered when someone experiences allergy symptoms shortly after eating carrots.  We also offer the Vegetable Allergy Panel #2 which includes carrots and other vegetables for more comprehensive testing.  For more options, please see our allergy testing category.

Turnaround for this test is typically 2-5 business days.