Laboratory Blood Testing: A Patient's Guide to Your Test, the Procedure, and Understanding Your Results
This blood test detects allergic antibodies to barley smut and wheat smut fungi, helping diagnose respiratory allergies in people exposed to grain and cereal crops.
{"Measures IgE antibodies specific to barley smut and wheat smut fungi","Used to diagnose occupational allergies in grain workers, farmers, and bakery employees","Blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm","Results indicate whether you have an allergic sensitivity to these fungal allergens","Positive results help guide treatment and avoidance strategies"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 102838-0
- Short code
- BARWSMT
- Synonyms
- Barley+Wheat smut IgE RAST
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Red-top serum collection tube or serum separator tube (SST)
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 0
- Ref high
- 0.34
- Critical range
- — – 500 N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 0–150 years
- Method
- Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) - solid-phase immunoassay for detection of allergen-specific IgE antibodies
- CPT
- 86003
- SNOMED
- 395127008
- Specimen volume
- 0.5-1 mL serum (minimum 0.3 mL)
- Stability
- Stable at room temperature for 8 hours; refrigerated (2-8°C) for 7 days; frozen at -20°C or below for up to 30 days. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
- Hemolysis max
- 200
- Lipemia max
- 300
- Icterus max
- 20
- TAT
- 24–72 hours
- Order
- routine
This test analyzes a small sample of your blood in a laboratory to measure important substances in your body, such as cells, chemicals, proteins, and hormones. Your healthcare provider uses these measurements to check how well your organs are working and to help diagnose, screen for, or monitor medical conditions.
The Barley Smut and Wheat Smut IgE Antibody test is a blood test that detects whether your immune system has developed allergic antibodies (called IgE) against barley smut and wheat smut. These are fungal diseases that affect wheat and barley crops. The test uses a method called RAST (Radioallergosorbent test), which is a laboratory technique to measure specific IgE antibodies in your blood.
You may need this test as part of a routine health checkup, to help find the cause of symptoms you are experiencing, to screen for certain diseases before they cause problems, or to monitor how well an existing condition, medication, or treatment is working over time.
Your doctor may recommend this test if you work with grains and cereals and experience allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, wheezing, or skin rashes. This is particularly common among farmers, grain elevator workers, bakers, and others who handle grain products regularly. The test helps determine if your symptoms are caused by an allergic reaction to these fungal organisms.
A trained healthcare professional will draw a small sample of blood, usually from a vein in your inner arm. The site is cleaned with an antiseptic, a needle is gently inserted, and the blood is collected into a tube and sent to the laboratory for analysis. The procedure typically takes only a few minutes, and you may feel a brief pinch when the needle goes in.
A healthcare professional will draw a small blood sample from a vein in your arm. The sample is then sent to a laboratory where it is tested for the presence of IgE antibodies specific to barley smut and wheat smut. You do not need to fast or prepare in any special way for this test.
Your results will show whether the measured values fall within the normal reference range for your age and sex. Values that are higher or lower than expected do not always mean you have a serious health problem, and many factors can affect them. Your healthcare provider will review the full report with you, explain what each result means for your health, and recommend any follow-up testing, lifestyle changes, or treatment if needed.
Results are typically reported as either positive (indicating IgE antibodies are present) or negative (no significant IgE antibodies detected). A positive result means you have an allergic sensitivity to barley smut and/or wheat smut. Your doctor will interpret these results together with your symptoms and medical history to confirm a diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Reference range
Negative: <0.35 kU/L; Equivocal: 0.35-0.69 kU/L; Positive: ≥0.70 kU/L. Class scoring (0-6) based on quantitative IgE concentrationN/A
No fasting required. Patient should inform provider of antihistamine use, as recent antihistamine use does not affect IgE antibody levels but skin testing may be suppressed
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
This test is primarily used for diagnosing Type I (immediate) hypersensitivity to barley smut and wheat smut fungi. It is particularly valuable for occupational health assessment in workers exposed to grain dust, including agricultural workers, grain handlers, flour mill workers, and bakery staff. Positive results confirm allergic sensitization and help differentiate between allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, or baker's asthma caused by these specific fungal allergens. The test aids in implementing appropriate workplace accommodations and avoidance strategies.
Frequently asked questions
Is this test painful?
How long does it take to get results?
Do I need to stop taking allergy medications before the test?
What does a positive result mean for my job?
Can this test diagnose other allergies?
Sources
- 1
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This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 17, 2026. · Read our editorial policy