Shrimp Allergy (IgE)
Shows whether you are sensitized to shrimp, 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
Shrimp is a crustacean, and this blood test measures IgE antibodies to it. People often check it after a reaction to shellfish, or before seeing an allergist. A positive result shows sensitization, which is not the same as an allergy. No fasting or other prep is needed.
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 shrimp, for example after a reaction to shellfish, 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 shrimp, which an allergist or other healthcare provider reads with your history to understand what sensitization may mean for you.
- Shrimp-specific IgE (f24)
- IgE is the antibody involved in allergic reactions. This marker is the amount of IgE in your blood that recognizes shrimp, a crustacean, reported in kU/L. A level above the lab’s reference range means sensitization, not necessarily allergy.
- Why it’s measured: To see whether you are sensitized to shrimp, read with your history by an allergist.
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
An allergist or other healthcare provider reads this result with your history before any decision about eating shrimp.
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 person
Lobster, Spiny Allergy (IgE)
Spiny lobster, another crustacean, often checked alongside.
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Questions
Common questions.
Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.
It can. Crustaceans such as shrimp, crab, lobster, and crayfish share similar proteins, so sensitization to one can come with sensitization to others. Mollusks, such as clams and oysters, are a separate shellfish group, though some of their proteins are similar too.
Shellfish allergy can also first appear in adulthood. Decisions about eating any shellfish belong with an allergist, who reads your results with your history.
No. Sensitization means your body has made IgE to shrimp. An allergy means that exposure causes symptoms. Many people are sensitized without having symptoms, so a positive result alone does not mean you are allergic.
A negative result does not clear an allergy either. An allergist or other healthcare provider reads your result with what happens when you are exposed.
Get emergency care. If you have trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or you feel faint or pass out after eating any food, call 911 right away. If you have a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector, use it as directed. This blood test is not for urgent reactions.
After a serious reaction, an allergist can talk with you about what happened and which tests make sense.
Yes. Shrimp 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.