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

Paper Wasp Allergy (IgE)

IgE antibodies to paper wasp venom, from one 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

This test measures IgE antibodies to paper wasp venom. People often check it after a strong reaction to a paper wasp sting, alongside care from 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 with a past strong reaction to a paper wasp sting who are working with an allergist and want to check IgE to paper wasp venom.

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?

The result shows your level of IgE to paper wasp venom, one piece of information an allergist reads with your sting history when planning venom allergy care.

Paper wasp venom-specific IgE (i4)
IgE is the antibody involved in allergic reactions. This marker is the amount of IgE in your blood that recognizes paper wasp venom, reported in kU/L. A level above the lab’s reference range means sensitization, not necessarily allergy.
Why it’s measured: Read by an allergist with your sting history to guide venom allergy care.

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

Your IgE level is reported in kU/L and compared with the lab’s reference range. A result above the range means 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

An allergist reads this result with what happened after the sting. Decisions about venom allergy care are made with them.

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 test is not for urgent reactions. If you have trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or you faint after a sting, 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.

Not on its own. A positive result means your immune system has made IgE to paper wasp venom, 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.

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. Paper wasp venom is one of the venoms in the insect venom panel, which measures IgE to several stinging insect venoms in one draw.

Panel results are read like single tests. Sensitization is not the same as allergy.

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.