Cherry Allergy Blood Test

his test measures a person's allergic reaction to cherries.  Cherry allergies are not common but they do affect some people.  People with a cherry allergy should be careful to check ingredients as cherries are used in a variety of products including juices, candies, baked goods, jellies, and jams.   If you are allergic to cherries, there is an increased likelihood that you will be allergic to other fruits as well.  

Allergy symptoms can develop anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours after ingestion or exposure.  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 cherries or products that contain cherries.  For further options, please see our allergy testing category.

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