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

Honey Bee Venom Allergy (IgE)

Your IgE level to honey bee venom, 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

After a strong reaction to a honey bee sting, this blood test can check for IgE antibodies to honey bee venom. Decisions about venom allergy care are made with an allergist. A positive result shows sensitization, which is not the same as an allergy. No fasting is needed.

For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

For adults who have had a strong reaction to a honey bee sting and want to check for sensitization to honey bee venom, alongside care from an allergist.

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 honey bee venom. An allergist reads it with what happened after the sting to decide on next steps for venom allergy care.

Honey bee venom-specific IgE (i1)
Specific IgE is an antibody the immune system can make against one allergen. This marker measures IgE that recognizes honey bee venom. A level above the lab’s reference range shows sensitization, which an allergist reads with your sting history.
Why it’s measured: Checks for IgE sensitization to honey bee venom after a strong reaction to a sting.

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

Decisions about venom allergy care are made with an allergist, who reads this result with your sting 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.

No. This blood test is not for urgent reactions. Trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or fainting after a sting needs emergency care, so call 911 right away. If you have a prescribed epinephrine auto-⁠injector, use it as directed.

Once you are well, an allergist or other healthcare provider can help you decide whether testing fits and what comes next.

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

Decisions about venom allergy care belong with an allergist or other healthcare provider who knows your history.

An allergist. Decisions about venom allergy care are made with an allergist, who looks at what happened after the sting, which insect was involved if known, and results like this one.

Timing matters: a test done soon after a sting can read lower, so an allergist can advise when to test. A negative result does not clear a venom allergy, and a positive one does not tell you how you would react to a future sting.

Yes. Honey bee venom is one of the venoms in the insect venom panel, which measures IgE to several stinging insect venoms in one draw.

Each result in a panel is read the same way: sensitization is not the same as allergy, and an allergist reads 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.