Order a mouse urine allergy IgE blood test to detect an allergy to mouse urine. This test measures the amount of allergen-specific antibodies in a blood sample.
Just as individuals are allergic to dogs and cats, they can also be allergic to mice. Winter's onset prompts mice to search for shelter where it is warmer. Unsecured food or garbage in a home is an attractant that the mice will also seek out. It doesn't take much of an opening in a house for a mouse to get in. A gap as small as a dime is all a mouse needs to squeeze through.
Mice produce a highly allergenic protein that can be found in their urine. When the urine dries, this protein adheres to particles of dust and becomes airborne. Inhalation of airborne particles is the most common cause of severe allergic reactions in some individuals. The allergy-causing protein can be spread across furniture and countertops as the mice scurry through their own urine and droppings to explore an individual's home. The overly active nature of mice exasperates the spread of their allergens.
An allergy to mouse urine triggers a reaction in an individual's immune system. The body views certain substances as toxic and produces IgE antibodies to these contaminants. These antibodies cause histamine to be released, which will cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Allergy symptoms vary from one individual to the next ranging from mild to severe reactions, which can be experienced within minutes to a few hours after exposure. Common symptoms of a mouse urine allergy may include one or more of the following symptoms:
- Red itchy eyes
- Sneezing
- Cough
- Rash
- Wheezing
- Tightness in the chest
- Shortness of breath
Test Code(s):
602689, 2658
Preparation:
No special preparation required.
Test Results:
3-5 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.
