Allergy Red Kidney Bean Fluorescence Assay Blood

This test helps to find whether an individual is allergic to red kidney beans or not by detection of specific allergen IgE antibodies in the blood sample.

What are Kidney Beans?

Kidney beans are a good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber and prevent blood sugar levels from rapidly increasing after food consumption. When these beans are combined with rice, it provides high-quality fat-free proteins. Kidney beans decrease the risk of developing heart disease by supplying magnesium and folate. These beans should be pre-soaked and heated for 10 minutes before eating because they contain high amounts of phytohemagglutinin. So these beans are more toxic than most of the other beans and may cause nausea, vomiting, headache, disorientation in some of the individuals.

Antibodies are produced when any foreign substance or virus or bacteria enters into the body. Some time immune system detects our own body cell or tissue as a foreign substance and tries to kill or destroy it by producing antibodies.

Antibodies are in Y shaped and are of 5 sub-types. They are IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, IgE. IgG provides long-term protection as it presents in the circulation for long period after the presence of an antigen. IgM is involved in the ABO blood group antigens on the red blood cells (RBC’s) surface. IgM also enhances the ingestion of cells by phagocytosis. IgA is also the first defense for intestine, lungs, and nose. They bind antigens to the microbes before they invade tissues and keeps antigens in secretion and when secretion is expelled, antigens are also expelled. IgD helps in the induction of antibody production and presents on the surface of B-cells. IgE binds to the basophils and mast cells.

Why this test is performed?

This test is performed to check whether an individual is allergic to red kidney beans or not. The doctor may ask you to undergo this test if you are suffering from food allergy to red kidney beans, headache, vomiting, nausea and disorientation after eating the red kidney beans. This test can also be done along with other food allergy tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Precautions:

Some medications such as antihistamines may change the test results and hence you are advised to inform all your current medications to the doctor prior to the test.

The test results may be different depending on gender, age, and health conditions. Inform your doctor if you had an allergy to any other food items.

Generally, there is no need for medical interventions if test results are normal.

If the test results are more than the normal range then it may indicate that the individual is allergic to the red kidney beans.

In case the test results are below or equal to the normal range then it may indicate that the individual is not allergic to the red kidney beans.