Strawberry

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

Strawberries are a popular fruit packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. However, some individuals can have allergic reactions to strawberries, causing stomach problems, skin rashes, or more serious reactions. The Strawberry test helps detect a strawberry allergy by checking for specific antibodies (IgE) that the body makes against proteins present in strawberries. This test helps confirm if the immune system is mistakenly treating strawberries as a threat and causing an allergy.

The Strawberry 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 strawberry or strawberry-based foods. It helps separate strawberry 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 strawberry-specific IgE antibodies means the individual has an allergy to strawberries, 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 Strawberry 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.