Allergy Pork Enzyme Assay Blood

Pork allergy blood test is used to detect any allergies caused by pork. This test mainly helps in measuring the IgE antibodies in the blood to assess the sensitization to pork allergens. This test helps in knowing the immune response to pork and its products.

What is pork allergy?

Pork is a type of meat from a domestic pig. It is the most consumed food worldwide. Pork allergy may be due to various reasons. One of them may be an immune response to the pork and its products. The immune system mistakes the proteins in the cells of pork for a foreign substance. Then the body produces a reaction similar to the one created during an attack of bacteria or virus. Pork allergy is also called pork-cat syndrome because most of the pork allergies are related to cat allergies. This pork allergy is caused in response to cat serum albumin which cross-reacts with albumin in pork. The uncooked pork meat or dried and smoked pork products tend to cause more reactions than well-cooked pork meat. The symptoms of pork allergy are severe itching, rashes, inflammation of the skin, runny or stuffy nose, difficulty in breathing, wheezing, mild fever, gastrointestinal upset like nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, etc.

Sometimes the allergic reactions can be life-threatening causing narrowing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe. Very less often pork allergy may cause an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency condition which leads to facial flushing, itching, shock, sudden fall in blood pressure, constriction of airways, swollen throat, difficulty to breathe, etc.

Why this test is recommended?

This test may be recommended to you if you experience symptoms like severe itching, rashes, inflammation of the skin, runny or stuffy nose, difficulty in breathing, wheezing, mild fever, gastrointestinal upset like nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, etc immediately after eating pork and its products. If you experience symptoms of pork allergy after consuming pork and have a known allergy to cats, then immediate treatment should be given.

This may also be recommended to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment if you are diagnosed already.

The normal reference range may vary depending on gender, age, health history, etc.

If your test results show high levels of IgE antibodies than the given reference range, it may indicate that the person is most likely to have an allergy.

If your test results are lower than the reference range, it may indicate that the allergy is absent in the individual.

If you get abnormal test results, consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor may recommend other tests depending on your test results.