Olive

The Olive test is a blood test tailored to detect specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in response to olive proteins (antigens). This test helps identify olive and olive-based food allergies.

Olives are a common part of many Mediterranean diets, known for their rich, tangy flavor and health benefits. They are a good source of healthy fats, and provide antioxidants and important vitamins. However, some individuals can have allergic reactions to olive, causing stomach problems, skin rashes, or more serious reactions. The Olive test helps detect an olive allergy by checking for specific antibodies (IgE) that the body makes against proteins present in olive. This test helps confirm if the immune system is mistakenly treating olive as a threat and causing an allergy.

The Olive test is recommended when individuals experience symptoms like swelling, itching, or discomfort in the mouth or throat, skin rashes, nausea, stomach pain, or diarrhea after eating olive or olive-based foods. It helps separate olive allergies from other conditions like food intolerances or oral allergy syndrome (OAS), a type of food allergy that causes allergic reactions in the lips, mouth, and throat upon eating certain raw fruits and vegetables. 

A positive test result for olive-specific IgE antibodies means the individual has an allergy to olive, and it’s usually best to avoid them to prevent reactions. If the result is negative, more tests might be needed to find other causes for the symptoms.

No special preparation is required for the Olive test. However, it is important to inform the doctor about any medications (such as antihistamines) or supplements being taken, as these may affect the test results. Lab test results can vary depending on the specific test method and allergens used, so they should be interpreted alongside clinical symptoms.