Dog Dander IgE Test - More Information

This dog dander allergy test, also known as a dog allergy test, dog IgE test, and dog dander allergy blood test, measures the dog dander IgE antibody blood level.

A dog allergy is when one is allergic to a dog. Dog allergies can cause a wide range of symptoms ranging from a stuffy nose or watery eyes to life-threatening trouble breathing. More specifically, dog allergy symptoms are frequently triggered by dog dander. Dog dander is similar to human dandruff and is shed by dogs, accumulating in places like carpets, mattresses and pillows. Exposure to dog dander then triggers the immune response in susceptible people, leading to allergy symptoms.

This dog dander IgE test uses the ImmunoCAP® lab methodology. IgE blood test results are reported in kU/L and can be compared against the IgE antibody reference range provided by the lab to determine the IgE allergy class to dog dander. For a more generic pet allergy screening, the cat & dog dander allergy test might be a better choice.

This dog dander allergy blood test is less painful and has less side effects than historical allergy testing methods such as the skin prick test (SPT). In the skin prick, or scratch, test, serum containing dog dander components are injected into the skin. If you are allergic to dogs, you will, unfortunately, have a mild allergic reaction and all of the symptoms that go with it. Instead, this allergy blood test can check for a dog dander allergy without causing an allergic reaction, resulting in a much more comfortable lab testing experience through a simple blood draw.

There are other ways to reduce the symptoms of dog dander allergies. When possible, washing your dog regularly can help reduce the amount of dander being shed. Frequent vacuuming of rugs and carpets can help remove dog dander from the environment. Also, cleaning furniture and other home furnishings with soap and water can help remove excess dog dander from your home.