Allergy Insulin Bovine Enzyme Assay Skin
What is this test?
This test helps to find whether an individual is allergic to insulin bovine or not. In this test, a solution containing allergen insulin bovine is applied to the skin. Then the applied area of the skin is pricked with a lancet needle
What are Insulin and Insulin Bovine?
Insulin is a hormone produced by a special type of cells in the pancreas. Insulin helps in promoting the absorption of glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into the cells of liver, fat and skeletal muscle. In these cells, glucose is used to produce energy and utilized by the body. The special type of cells in the pancreas are sensitive to glucose concentrations or blood sugar levels. Insulin production is high when the glucose levels in the blood are high and when glucose levels are low insulin production is low.
Insulin attaches to the target cell receptors and allows the cell to absorb glucose from the blood and the cells utilize the absorbed glucose to produce energy. Insulin thus maintains the blood glucose levels and prevents the hypoglycemia (low in blood glucose or sugar levels) and hyperglycemia (high in blood glucose or sugar levels).
The first type of insulin used to control diabetes in humans is animal insulin. Mostly used animal insulins are pig insulin and cow insulin. Cow insulin is also called Insulin Bovine. Insulin bovine is a type of insulin where insulin from the pancreas cells of the cow is taken and purified to reduce the occurrence of an allergic reaction to the insulin in the individuals.
What is Insulin Bovine allergy?
Insulin bovine allergy is a type of allergy in which an individual is allergic to the insulin bovine and may suffer from symptoms such as swelling, redness, and itching around the site of injection, shortness of breath, rash, dizziness, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea etc.
Antibodies are produced when any foreign substance or virus or bacteria enters the body. Antibodies are in Y shaped and are of 5 sub-types. They are IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, IgE. IgE binds to the basophils and mast cells and is seen during allergic reactions.
Why this test is performed?
This test is performed to check whether an individual is allergic to insulin bovine or not. The doctor may ask you to undergo this test if you are suffering from symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, rash, swelling, redness, and itching around the site of injection, shortness of breath, dizziness, excessive sweating, fever, swelling of throat and mouth, etc.
Precautions:
Some medications may change the test results and hence you are advised to inform all your current medications to the doctor prior to the test.
Smoking and alcohol consumption may change the way how insulin act and works.
Test Preparation
Inform your doctor if you are on any medications, have any allergies or underlying medical conditions before your Allergy Insulin Bovine Enzyme Assay Skin. Your doctor will give specific instructions depending on your condition on how to prepare for Allergy Insulin Bovine Enzyme Assay Skin.
There are no specific preparations required for this test.
Understanding your test results
The test results may be different depending on gender, age, and health conditions. Inform your doctor if you have any other allergies.
Generally, there is no need for medical interventions if test results are normal.
If the test results are negative it may indicate that there is no wheal and flare type reaction. So, the individual is not allergic to Insulin bovine.
Wheal-and-flare reaction is the swelling and redness of the skin.
In case the test results are positive it may indicate that there is a wheal-and-flare type reaction on the skin. A wheal with a diameter of 3mm or more is generally considered as a positive result which means the individual is allergic to Insulin bovine.
| Gender | Age groups | Value |
| UNISEX | All age groups | A wheal and flare reaction of atleast 3mm indicates that the patient is allergic to the substance |