Grapefruit IgE Test - More Information

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

Grapefruit is a popular fruit known for its bright colors and sweet, tart taste. Eaten raw and also squeezed into juice, grapefruit is a type of citrus fruit. Grapefruit allergies can cause symptoms similar to traditional mild allergies - red eyes, runny nose and sneezing - and can also be more severe and cause trouble breathing. In addition to causing allergy symptoms in sensitive people, grapefruit also interacts with different drugs. Through a compound it contains called bergamottin, grapefruit can inhibit the CYP3A4 enzyme and impair the metabolism on drugs that are affected by that metabolic pathway.

This grapefruit 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 grapefruit. The grapefruit allergy test is also part of the larger fruit allergy test panel.

This grapefruit 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 grapefruit components are injected into the skin. If you are allergic to grapefruit, 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 the grapefruit allergy without causing an allergic reaction, resulting in a much more comfortable lab testing experience through a simple blood draw.