| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
Immunoglobulin E
Test CodeIGE
CPT Codes
82785
Preferred Specimen
1.0 mL plasma collected in a PST (LiHeparin tube)
or serum collected in a gold top tube
or serum collected in a gold top tube
Patient Preparation
None
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Plasma – Li Heparin (PST) Plasma
EDTA (Lavender)
Tiger top (SST)
Gold top (SST)
Red top
EDTA (Lavender)
Tiger top (SST)
Gold top (SST)
Red top
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: N/A
Refrigerated: 7 days at 2-8°C
Frozen: 6 months at 20°C, Samples may be frozen 5 times.
Refrigerated: 7 days at 2-8°C
Frozen: 6 months at 20°C, Samples may be frozen 5 times.
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Samples not labeled with complete first and last name of patient and date of birth.
Gorssly hemolyzed.
Gorssly hemolyzed.
Methodology
Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay
Setup Schedule
24/7
Report Available
Same day
Reference Range
< 100 IU/mL
Clinical Significance
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) plays an important role in immunological protection against parasitic infections and in allergy (type 1 hypersensitivity). Type 1 hypersensitivity is characterized by the occurrence of allergic reactions immediately following contact with an allergy-initiating antigen (allergen). The binding of the allergen to sensitized mast cells or basophilic cells leads to cross-linking of the IgE on the cell membrane. This in turn causes cell degranulation and the release of factors (e.g. histamine), which produce the typical symptoms of type 1 hypersensitivity.
The IgE concentration in serum is normally very low (< 0.001 % of the total serum immunoglobulin). The IgE concentration is age-dependent, with the lowest values being measured at birth. Its concentration gradually increases and becomes stabilized between the age of 5-7, although the IgE values vary greatly within particular age groups. In infants and small children with recurrent respiratory tract diseases, the determination of IgE is of prognostic relevance.
As IgE is of importance in allergies, elevated IgE concentrations can be found in patients with allergic diseases such as hay fever, atopic bronchitis and dermatitis.3,4 Normal IgE values do not, however, mean that an allergic disease can be ruled out. For this reason the quantitative determination of serum IgE concentrations for clinical differentiation between atopic and non-atopic diseases is only useful in combination with other clinical findings. Elevated serum IgE concentrations can also occur in non-allergic diseases, e.g. bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, hyper-IgE syndrome, IgE myeloma, and parasitic infections. The Elecsys IgE II assay uses monoclonal antibodies specifically directed against human IgE.
The IgE concentration in serum is normally very low (< 0.001 % of the total serum immunoglobulin). The IgE concentration is age-dependent, with the lowest values being measured at birth. Its concentration gradually increases and becomes stabilized between the age of 5-7, although the IgE values vary greatly within particular age groups. In infants and small children with recurrent respiratory tract diseases, the determination of IgE is of prognostic relevance.
As IgE is of importance in allergies, elevated IgE concentrations can be found in patients with allergic diseases such as hay fever, atopic bronchitis and dermatitis.3,4 Normal IgE values do not, however, mean that an allergic disease can be ruled out. For this reason the quantitative determination of serum IgE concentrations for clinical differentiation between atopic and non-atopic diseases is only useful in combination with other clinical findings. Elevated serum IgE concentrations can also occur in non-allergic diseases, e.g. bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, hyper-IgE syndrome, IgE myeloma, and parasitic infections. The Elecsys IgE II assay uses monoclonal antibodies specifically directed against human IgE.
Performing Laboratory
Frederick Health Laboratory 400 W 7th Street Frederick, MD 20701
Last Updated: December 27, 2023
