A patient seated in the chair before a blood draw
In person

Duck Feathers Allergy (IgE)

Your IgE level to duck feathers, from one standard blood draw.

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  • 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 draw
A standard blood draw at the lab.
Preparation
None
Nothing to do ahead of time. Water is fine.
Results
3 to 5 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

Duck feathers carry bird proteins, and this blood test measures IgE antibodies to them. Exposure can come from feather bedding and farms. Sensitization is not the same as allergy, so the result is read with your history. 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?

For adults whose sneezing, congestion, or cough seems to follow time around ducks or feather bedding, who want to check for sensitization to duck feathers.

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 whether your blood has IgE to duck feathers. With your history of exposure, it can help a healthcare provider understand whether birds may play a part in your symptoms.

Duck feathers-specific IgE (e86)
This marker measures IgE antibodies to duck feathers. A level above the lab’s reference range shows the immune system is sensitized to it. Many sensitized people have no symptoms, so the result is read with your history.
Why it’s measured: Helps a healthcare provider see whether ducks may play a part in symptoms.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Order online

    Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

Results come back as an IgE level in kU/L, compared with the lab’s reference range. Above the range shows sensitization, not necessarily allergy.

  • 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

Share your result with an allergist or other healthcare provider, who reads it with your symptoms and exposure 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.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

It does not tell you whether you will react to duck feathers, or how strongly. IgE shows sensitization, and many sensitized people have no symptoms. A negative result does not clear an allergy either.

Decisions about birds, bedding, or other exposure belong with an allergist or other healthcare provider who knows your history.

Feathers and droppings carry bird proteins that can lead to sensitization. For duck feathers, exposure can come from feather bedding and farms.

Birds can also cause a different lung reaction that does not involve IgE, and this test does not check for it. Ongoing cough or shortness of breath around birds needs a healthcare provider. A positive result shows sensitization, not that birds cause your symptoms.

Both look for IgE sensitization. A skin test checks how your skin responds to a small amount of an allergen, while this test measures IgE to duck feathers in a blood sample. In many cases the two are considered comparable.

A blood test may be preferred in some situations, such as a widespread skin condition or recent use of medicines that affect skin tests. Don’t stop or change any medicine without talking with your healthcare provider.

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.