Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A, IgE

This test measures IgE Antibodies to Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A (SEA). Staphylococcal Enterotoxins are a family of bacteria which are responsible for a number of diseases such as food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome as well as infections of the skin and respiratory system. SEA is one of the most common varieties of these bacteria and is responsible for 80% of food poisoning cases. Studies have found that people with a higher level of allergic sensitivity to SEA are more likely to develop asthma and have more severe reactions to common allergens like dust and pollen. Measuring SEA IgE levels can help determine the cause of a person’s asthma or assess their risk of developing severe asthma.

Results of this test should be interpreted along with a person’s medical history by their doctor. For additional allergy tests, please see our Allergy Testing Category.

Turnaround for this Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A test is typically 3-6 business days.