Pistachio Nut Allergy Test

Sample Report Test Code: 602486 Specimen Type: Blood

Description:

Pistachio Nut Allergy Test

This test measures a person's allergic reaction to pistachio nuts.  Allergies to one or more types of nuts are among the most common types of food allergies.  It is typical to be allergic to more than one type of nut, so people who have a pistachio allergy may need to avoid other types of nuts as well.  Different types of nuts are also processed in the same facilities so there is a high risk of cross-contamination.  This means that other types of nuts or products including nuts can trigger your allergies even if you are not allergic to that specific type of nut.

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 pistachios.  A Tree Nut and Peanut Allergy Panel which looks for a variety of nut allergies is also available.  For more options, please see our allergy testing category.

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