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Pork Allergy Test

This Pork Allergy Test uses a blood sample to determine whether or not you are allergic to pork.

$49
Order Test
Test Preparation:
None
Testing Method:
Blood draw

This Pork Allergy Test uses a blood sample to determine whether or not you are allergic to pork. Those with pork allergies are prone to inflammation of the skin, itchy mouths or throats, nausea, difficulty breathing, and in rare and extreme cases, anaphylaxis. While some people are born with pork allergies, some adults contract the allergy after being bitten by a Lone Star Tick. Keep in mind, apart from meat dishes, pork substances can be found in gelatin (Jello, fruit snacks), some sodas, potato chips, and even certain toothpastes and soaps. Cover a wide range of potential meat allergens, with our Meat Allergy Panel, or to identify this specific allergy, order the Pork Allergy Test today.

How Our Pork Allergy Test Works

Food allergies can cause uncomfortable symptoms and can even put you at risk of suffering a life-threatening condition, anaphylaxis. The best approach to handling your food allergy is to know what you are and aren’t allergic to. While you might suspect you have an allergy, a simple blood test can help you confirm the source you believe is causing your symptoms.

At Priority Lab Testing, you can choose from a wide range of food allergy tests to determine what you might be allergic to. Our process is fast and straightforward. Choose what tests you would like, purchase online, then come by one of our 4,000 locations to have your blood taken through a quick and painless test. You have no need to make an appointment with your doctor or await approval of a referral. Just purchase the allergy test you need, come in to provide a sample and get your results within one to three days. You will receive an email alerting you that your results are ready and a link to your secure pork allergy test results.

Common Symptoms of a Pork Allergy

A pork allergy may not be one of the top 8 allergens in the U.S., but it can still occur in some people and cause mild to severe allergic reactions. Pork allergies can happen in children or adults. Pork allergies can develop suddenly or due to alpha-gal syndrome, which is often linked to a prior tick bite from a Lone Star Tick.  The signs of a pork allergy may not always be obvious, and you may not suspect an allergy until you have suffered repeated episodes of symptoms following the ingestion or use of pork or pork byproducts1.

Symptoms commonly reported by pork allergy sufferers include:

  • Stomach cramping or bloating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Recurrent headaches
  • Hives or other skin disturbances
  • Nasal congestion
  • Itchy or watery eyes
  • Feelings of lightheadedness
  • Fatigue
  • Anaphylaxis warning signs such as itchy mouth, shortness of breath, fast heart rate, low blood pressure, etc.

How to Interpret Your Pork Allergy Test Results

After receiving your notification from Priority Lab Testing that your secure pork allergy test results are ready for viewing, you will want to know how to interpret these results. Accompanying your pork allergy results will be a group of reference ranges that will alert you as to where your sample compares. An individual without a pork allergy will likely receive normal, non-reactive findings and little to no antibodies detected when introduced to the pork allergen. Those individuals with a likely pork allergy will find that their results are labeled abnormal or reactive, and their range will indicate the level of sensitivity to the allergen.

Pork Allergy Test versus Cat Allergy Test

It may come as a surprise to learn that some pork allergy sufferers are subject to the pork-cat syndrome2. Pork allergy sufferers with this condition are found to have a cross-reactivity allergy to living cats. The pork allergy test only detects an allergy to pork meat consumption. However, if you test positive, you may be interested in purchasing a cat allergy test to check for potential cross-reactivity.

FAQs

  • Although rare, it is possible for a person with a pork allergy to suffer an unexpected life-threatening reaction to the ingestion of pork or the use of pork-derived products. If allergic, it is best to avoid all forms of pork to avoid any potential adverse reactions.

  • If you suffer symptoms of an allergic reaction after the ingestion of pork or use of pork byproducts, you should consider the pork allergy test. Additionally, if you are a known cat allergy sufferer, you might be at risk of cross-reaction from pork and should be tested to check whether you are, in fact, allergic.

  • Although pork is not one of the most common allergens, it can happen to anyone at any age. Its development can be more common in people that visit or live in areas with Lone Star Tick infestations. Rising reports3 of Alpha-Gal Syndrome can increase the number of people living with pork allergies across the country.

  1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781119383956.ch2#:~:text=The%20most%20relevant%20pork%20byproducts,high%20quality%20fats%20and%20proteins.

  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4412402/#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20rare%20pathology,angioedema%2C%20to%20potentially%20fatal%20anaphylaxis.

  3. https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/tickbornedisease/reports/alpha-gal-subcomm-2020/index.html