Will this test tell me what I am allergic to?

No. Total IgE measures your overall IgE level only. It can suggest that you have an allergic tendency, but it cannot identify specific allergens such as peanuts, cats or pollen. That requires specific IgE testing for each suspected allergen, or skin testing with an allergist.

What counts as a high IgE level?

Quest's reference limit for adults is 114 kU/L or less. Children have age-based limits. Above the limit means your total IgE is higher than expected, which most often points to allergic disease but can have other causes.

Can my IgE be normal if I have allergies?

Yes. Quest notes that a normal IgE does not exclude an allergic disorder. If you have symptoms after a specific exposure, a clinician may still recommend specific IgE or skin testing.

Should I stop antihistamines before the test?

Quest lists no preparation for this blood test. Do not stop any medicine unless the clinician who manages it tells you to.

No. You can eat and drink normally before this test.

How long do results take?

Quest's directory lists results in about 1 to 5 days after the sample reaches the lab, depending on which Quest laboratory runs it. Results appear in your private JustLabs dashboard.

What should I do if my IgE is high?

Share it with a clinician or allergist, especially if you have symptoms. They may recommend specific allergen testing, a CBC with differential to check eosinophils, or other evaluation depending on your history.

Does insurance cover it, and can I use my FSA or HSA?

JustLabs is a cash-pay service, so no insurance claim is filed. Lab tests are generally FSA/HSA-eligible, and JustLabs provides an itemized receipt you can submit; check with your plan administrator to confirm. Each order also includes one flat $18 Lab & Physician Order Fee, charged once per order no matter how many tests you add.

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✨ General Health

Total IgE Blood Test (Immunoglobulin E)

Total IgE

IgE is the antibody your immune system makes in allergic reactions. A total IgE test measures your overall level: a high result suggests an allergic tendency, but it cannot tell you what you are allergic to.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a type of antibody that the immune system produces in response to allergens such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander or certain foods. In allergic conditions, IgE binds to immune cells that release histamine and other chemicals, causing symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, hives or wheezing.

A total IgE test measures the overall amount of IgE in your blood. It is important to understand what this test does and does not do. A high result means you may have some kind of allergy, but it does not show what you are allergic to or how serious the allergy is. Identifying a specific trigger requires specific IgE testing for each suspected allergen, or skin testing with an allergist.

Total IgE can also be raised for reasons other than allergy, including parasitic infections and smoking, and it is markedly high in a rare inherited immune disorder called hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome. Quest notes that a normal IgE level does not exclude an allergic disorder.

This is a quantitative immunoassay on serum, reported in kU/L against age-specific reference limits. No fasting is needed. Results are informational and should be reviewed with a clinician.

Price

$28

All-in

$46

incl. $18 lab & physician fee

Results

1-5 business days

Fasting

Not Required

What's Measured

Immunoglobulin E (IgE), total

What This Test Measures

This test measures the total concentration of immunoglobulin E in your serum, in kU/L, by immunoassay. It does not measure IgE against any particular allergen. Quest's reference limit for adults is 114 kU/L or less; children have age-specific limits that rise through early childhood.

Who Should Consider This Test

People with possible allergic symptoms, such as a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, itchy watery eyes, hives, wheezing or coughing, who want a general measure of allergic activity; people whose clinician is evaluating asthma, eczema or recurring allergic symptoms; and people being investigated for unexplained high eosinophils or possible parasitic infection, where total IgE is one piece of the picture.

Health Insights

Conditions Screened

Allergic (atopic) diseaseAllergic asthmaAllergic rhinitisParasitic infection (as a supporting marker)Hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome

Related Symptoms

Stuffy or runny noseSneezingItchy, watery eyesHivesWheezingCoughingShortness of breathEczema

When to Get Tested

When allergic symptoms are recurring or unexplained and a clinician wants a general marker of allergic activity, often alongside a CBC with differential (which reports eosinophils). If you want to know what you are allergic to, ask a clinician about specific IgE or skin testing instead. No fasting or timing is needed.

No fasting needed. How to prepare for your blood test →

Understanding Your Results

A result within the reference limit is normal, but Quest notes that a normal IgE does not exclude an allergic disorder. A high total IgE suggests an allergic (atopic) tendency, such as allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma or eczema, but it cannot identify the trigger or predict how severe a reaction would be. High IgE can also come from parasitic infections or smoking, and very high levels are a hallmark of rare conditions such as hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome. Review your result with a clinician, who may suggest specific IgE or skin testing, a CBC with differential or other evaluation. JustLabs results are informational and are not a diagnosis.

What to Expect

After placing your order, we send it straight to Quest Diagnostics — there is no consent form to sign and no partner email to wait for. Your requisition is usually ready to download from your dashboard within about an hour, and you can book your blood draw at any Quest Diagnostics location.

The blood draw typically takes just a few minutes. Results are usually available within 1-5 business days and will appear in your secure JustLabs dashboard.

Our results include reference ranges and easy-to-understand indicators showing whether your values are within normal limits.

How much does the Total IgE test cost?

The Total IgE test costs $28 at JustLabs — $46 all-in, since the $18 lab & physician order fee is charged once per order, however many tests you add. The price is fixed before your blood draw; no insurance or doctor visit needed.