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  2. 2. Visit a Lab

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  3. 3. Get Your Results

    Physician-reviewed lab results are available online within 24-72 hours.

Stinging Insect Allergy Panel

The Stinging Insect Allergy Panel will determine if you are allergic to various insects.

$159
Order panel
Test Preparation:
None
Testing Method:
Blood draw

The Stinging Insect Allergy Panel will determine if you are allergic to various insects. If stung, those with severe insect allergies are prone to swelling, wheezing, hives, dizziness, and/or difficulty breathing. Less severe symptoms include pain, itching, redness, and/or mild swelling.

The Stinging Insect Allergy Panel is comprised of five tests for the following insects:

  • Honey bees
  • Paper wasps
  • White-faced Hornets
  • Yellow Hornets
  • Yellow Jackets

Those with severe allergies can lessen symptoms by way of an epinephrine injection and are advised to have an Epi-Pen readily available, just in case. Unlike comparable animal allergy panels which can subject the body to potentially harmful allergens, the Priority Lab Testing panel is conducted by way of a relatively painless blood draw. The entire procedure typically takes less than ten minutes and patients have their results in just 24-72 hours.

How Our Stinging Insect Allergy Panel Works

For our Stinging Insect Allergy Test, simply place your order online and stop by one of our 4,000+ nationwide testing facilities at your convenience (no appointment required). A member of the center’s staff will collect a small blood sample via the skin prick method, at which point your part of the process is done. The sample collection itself takes only a few minutes, and most patients are in and out and about their day in under a half-hour. Your sample will be processed in a CLIA-certified laboratory, and in as little as 24-72 hours, you’ll have full results regarding your stinging insect panel.

Common Stinging Insect Allergy Symptoms

If stung, those with severe insect allergies are prone to these common symptoms:

  • Swelling
  • Wheezing
  • Hives
  • Dizziness
  • Difficulty breathing

Less severe symptoms include pain, itching, redness, and/or mild swelling. Those with severe allergies can lessen symptoms by way of an epinephrine injection and are advised to have an Epi-Pen readily available, just in case.

How to Interpret Your Results

We strive to make interpreting your allergy test results as straightforward as possible. Our Stinging Insect Allergy Test is an Immunoglobulin-E (IgE) blood test that measures your body’s sensitivity to foreign substances by testing for IgE antibodies.

You’ll find a ‘results’, ‘flag’ and ‘reference range’ column when reviewing your results. The ‘reference range’ denotes the threshold for an allergic reaction. The ‘result’ is the numerical value describing your sensitivity to the allergen. For example, the outcome of your stinging insect test can be found under the ‘flag’ column and reported as either normal/non-reactive or abnormal/reactive. A reactive or abnormal test flag will indicate an allergic reaction to stinging insects.

While some people may have antibodies that only react to a single type of stinging insect, it is possible to have antibodies that react to multiple allergens.

For more detailed information, visit our Sample Test Results page to learn more about interpreting your results.

  • According to the National Library of Medicine, systemic allergic reactions to insect stings affect up to 5% of the population during their lifetime.

  • We aim to deliver complete, comprehensive results promptly. If you have questions about your results, our care counselors are standing by, ready and willing to assist. We can even put you in touch with a physician should you require additional assistance and/or prescription medication.

  • Insect allergies are not as common as environmental allergies, skin allergies, drug allergies, or skin allergies. Those who are allergic to such insects can experience a severe or life-threatening reaction. Up to half of all people who experience a fatal anaphylactic reaction to an insect sting do not have a history of systemic reaction to a previous sting.

    The best way to prevent an allergic reaction to a stinging insect is to be tested and prepared with life-saving tools, such as an epinephrine pen.

  1. Ludman, Sian W, and Robert J Boyle. “Stinging insect allergy: current perspectives on venom immunotherapy.” Journal of asthma and allergy vol. 8 75-86. 23 July 23, 2015. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4517515/.