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Order Code APGAL Galactose-Alpha-1,3-Galactose (Alpha-Gal) Mammalian Meat Allergy Profile, Serum


Ordering Guidance


For a listing of allergens available for testing, see Allergens - Immunoglobulin E (IgE) Antibodies.



Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.


Useful For

As an aid in diagnosis of an IgE mediated hypersensitivity allergy to non-primate mammalian red meat, such as beef, pork, venison, and meat-derived products, such as gelatin, via allergen profile testing

 

This test is not useful in patients previously treated with immunotherapy to determine if residual clinical sensitivity exists.

 

This test is not useful for patients in whom the medical management does not depend upon identification of allergen specificity.

Profile Information

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
ALGAL Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, IgE Yes Yes
BEEF Beef, IgE Yes Yes
PORK Pork, IgE Yes Yes
LAMB Lamb, IgE Yes Yes
MILK Milk, IgE Yes Yes

Testing Algorithm

Other meat allergen IgE antibody tests may be considered in addition to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose IgE antibody testing in cases of suspected red meat allergy.

Method Name

Fluorescence Enzyme Immunoassay (FEIA)

Reporting Name

Alpha-Gal Panel, S

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Frozen  90 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia OK

Reference Values

Class

IgE kU/L

Interpretation

0

<0.10

Negative

0/1

0.10-0.34

Borderline/equivocal

1

0.35-0.69

Equivocal

2

0.70-3.49

Positive

3

3.50-17.4

Positive

4

17.5-49.9

Strongly positive

5

50.0-99.9

Strongly positive

6

≥100

Strongly positive

 

Concentrations of 0.70 Ku/L or more (class 2 and above) will flag as abnormally high

Reference values apply to all ages.

Method Description

Specific IgE from the patient's serum reacts with the allergen of interest, which is covalently coupled to an ImmunoCAP. After washing away nonspecific IgE, enzyme-labeled anti-IgE antibody is added to form a complex. After incubation, unbound anti-IgE is washed away, and the bound complex incubated with a developing agent. After stopping the reaction, the fluorescence of the eluate is measured. Fluorescence is proportional to the amount of specific IgE present in the patient's sample (ie, the higher the fluorescence value, the more IgE antibody is present).(Package insert: ImmunoCAP System Specific IgE FEIA. Phadia UB; Rev 06/2020)

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

CPT Code Information

86003 x 4

86008

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following forms with the specimen:

-Allergen Test Request (T236)

-Microbiology Test Request (T244)