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Immunoglobulin E (IgE)

IgE, Serum IgE, Total IgE, Immunoglobulin E, Serum

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB5074, Beaker: IgE, Antrim #30430

Department

Chemistry

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Gold-top SST tube. (Minimum Whole Blood: 4.0 mL)

Contact the Laboratory for acceptability of other tube types.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let SST specimen clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) the centrifuged SST tube within two hours of collection.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Centrifuged SST tube, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Plasma specimens.
• Severely lipemic, icteric, or hemolyzed specimens.
• Red-top tubes with serum not separated from cells within two hours of collection. 

In-Lab Processing

Let SST specimens clot 30-60 minutes. Centrifuge SST tubes or Microtainers^® to separate serum from cells. Deliver immediately to the appropriate testing station.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Centrifuged SST Tubes and Microtainers^® with Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Red-top Tubes and Microtainers^® without Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-25°C or 68-77°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Serum Specimens (Pour-Overs)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 7 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Laboratory

Royal Oak Automated Chemistry Laboratory

Performed

Sunday – Saturday.
Results available within 2 business days.

Reference Range

0-99 IU/mL.

Test Methodology

Immunoturbidimetric.

Interpretation

• Increased serum IgE levels are associated with parasitic infections, allergic disorders (asthma, hayfever, atopic dermatitis, aspergillosis, drug and food allergies), hyper-IgE and recurrent pyoderma (Job-Buckley syndrome), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and IgE myeloma.
• Decreased serum IgE levels are associated with hypogammaglobulinemia, ataxia-telangiectasia, and IgE deficiency.
• Healthy, non-allergic adults have an expected IgE concentration of up to 99 IU/mL. Non-allergic children can be expected to have significantly less IgE, with a range that is approximately 10- 20% of the adult value. Low values for IgE concentrations do not necessarily indicate the absence of allergies. Some patients may have a low total IgE level but have a high concentration of allergen-specific IgE antibody.
• Specimens from patients receiving preparations of mouse monoclonal antibodies for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes may contain human anti-mouse antibodies. These specimens may exhibit falsely elevated or depressed values and should not be tested.

Clinical Utility

IgE level determinations can aid in the diagnosis and management of patients with allergic disorders, parasitic infections, immune deficiencies, and IgE myeloma. IgE mediates some types of allergic reactions, allergies, anaphylaxis and is generally responsible for an individual's immunity to invading parasites.

Clinical Disease

Hyperimmunoglobulinemia E syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder of unknown cause. Patients present with recurrent staphylococcal abscesses involving the skin, lungs, joints, and soft tissues. Job's syndrome is closely related to this disorder. Patient's typically have normal serum immunoglobulin concentrations except for IgE, which is typically markedly elevated to levels in excess of 2000 IU/ml and as high as 20,000 to 50,000 IU/ml. (1)

Reference

1. McClatchey, K. Clinical Laboratory Medicine. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, MD 1994; 1587.

CPT Codes

82785
LOINC: 19113-0

Contacts

Last Updated

1/18/2024