Allergen,Individual-FoodCoffee

Coffee is a beverage made from the roasted, ground, and brewed beans of the Coffea arabica evergreen shrub. It is one of the most favoured beverages in the world, with about 400 billion cups consumed annually. Coffee is most preferred for its rich source of caffeine, which helps individuals stimulate their minds to be alert and ready to take on the day. Unfortunately, some sensitized individuals may experience an adverse reaction after consuming coffee or coffee-based products. This Coffee Allergy Test may screen for a potential allergy and assist a healthcare provider in developing a management and treatment plan.

Once an individual with a coffee allergy ingests coffee or coffee-based products, it triggers a response in an individual's immune system. The immune system views specific allergens in coffee as harmful and produces IgE antibodies to combat these invaders. Unfortunately, these antibodies cause the chemical histamine to be released, which will cause the symptoms associated with an allergic reaction.

Caffeine sensitivity has similar symptoms to coffee allergies, making it somewhat difficult to distinguish the two. However, caffeine sensitivity is more common than a coffee allergy. A few unique signs of caffeine sensitivity are insomnia and anxiety.

Many individuals mistake caffeine sensitivity for a coffee allergy since consuming too much caffeine can result in shortness of breath, nausea, and stomach pain. However, paying attention to all symptoms and using specific-allergen blood tests such as this can help differentiate between the two conditions. In most cases, caffeine is the leading cause of the symptoms rather than a coffee allergy.

Associated Tests:

Allergy - Adult (Comprehensive) Panel

Allergy Screening

Written by: Supriya Kulkarni, Lead-Content & Training

Reviewed by : Dr. Alap Christry M.D. AVP-Lab Operations & Scientific Business Head-Clinical Chemistry