Cow's Milk Allergy (IgE)
IgE antibodies to cow’s milk, measured from one blood draw.
- 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
- Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
- Ordered by a licensed clinician
At a glance
- Collection
- Blood drawA standard blood draw at the lab.
- Preparation
- NoneNothing to do ahead of time. Water is fine.
- Results
- 3 to 5 daysTypical turnaround after your visit.
- Where
- 2,000+ lab locationsNationwide, with nothing due at the lab.
About this test
This blood test measures IgE antibodies to cow’s milk. People often check it after a reaction to dairy foods, or before seeing an allergist. A positive result shows sensitization, which is not the same as an allergy. There is nothing to do ahead of your visit.
For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.
Who should take this test?
This test is for adults who want to know whether they are sensitized to cow’s milk, for example after a reaction to dairy foods, or ahead of an allergist visit.
Ask about this test
Not sure this is the right test?
AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.
What does this test measure?
Your result shows your level of IgE to cow’s milk, which an allergist or other healthcare provider reads with your history to understand what sensitization may mean for you.
- Cow’s milk-specific IgE (f2)
- Specific IgE is an antibody the immune system can make against a single food. This marker measures IgE that recognizes cow’s milk. A level above the lab’s reference range shows sensitization, which an allergist reads with your history.
- Why it’s measured: Checks for IgE sensitization to cow’s milk, often after a reaction to dairy foods.
How it works
- Step 1
Order online
Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.
- Step 2
Visit a lab
Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. No fasting needed, and nothing is due at the lab.
- Step 3
Get your results
Results post to your account, usually in 3 to 5 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.
Find a lab near you
Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.
What your results tell you
Your result is reported as an IgE level in kU/L and compared with the lab’s reference range. A level above the range shows sensitization.
- Your number next to the lab’s reference range
- Explained in plain language
- A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
- A lab report you can download and share
Decisions about eating cow’s milk belong with an allergist or other healthcare provider, who reads this result with your history.
Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.
From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.
CLIA-certified labs
Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.
We protect your health data
We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.
Rigorous quality assurance
All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.
Clinician-reviewed reports
Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.
Related tests
In personCow's Milk Allergy (IgE) with Component Reflex
Milk IgE, with milk proteins tested if it is positive.
Questions
Common questions.
Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.
No. A milk allergy involves the immune system, and IgE to milk proteins is what this test measures. Lactose intolerance is trouble digesting the sugar in milk. It does not involve IgE, so this test does not check for it.
Reactions to milk can start in adults as well as children. An allergist reads your result with your history.
Not on its own. A positive result means your immune system has made IgE to cow’s milk, which is called sensitization. Many people who are sensitized have no symptoms when they are exposed.
A diagnosis of allergy is made by a healthcare provider who looks at your symptoms and history along with results like this one. A negative result also does not by itself mean you are not allergic.
No. This test is not for urgent reactions. If you have trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or you faint after eating any food, call 911 or get emergency care right away. If you have a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector, use it as directed.
Once a reaction has passed, an allergist or other healthcare provider can help you decide on next steps, including whether testing fits.
Yes. Cow’s milk is one of the allergens in the food allergy panel, which measures IgE to several foods in one draw. Depending on the first results, follow-up testing may be run on the same sample.
Each result in a panel is read the same way: sensitization is not the same as allergy, and an allergist interprets it with your history.
Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.