Tick Bite Induced Meat Allergy Panel

Tick Bite Induced Meat Allergy

Alpha-Gal syndrome is a type of food allergy to red meat and other products made from mammals. In the United States, the condition is most often caused by a Lone Star tick bite. The bite transmits a sugar molecule called alpha-Gal into the person’s body. In some people, this triggers an immune system reaction that later produces mild to severe allergic reactions to red meat, such as beef, pork, or lamb.  Symptom onset can be delayed 3 to 6 hours or more after consuming red meat.

The Lone Star tick is primarily carried on deer and is reaching new parts of the United States each year. Initially the tick was found predominantly in the southeastern United States.  Over the past decade the tick has been found in the eastern and central U.S. and appears to be spreading to the north and south. 

The time delay between eating red meat, and developing an allergic reaction, is one reason the condition was overlooked until recently. A possible connection between a T-bone steak with dinner and hives at midnight was far from obvious.  Researchers now believe that some people who have frequent, unexplained anaphylactic reactions — and who test negative for other food allergies — may be affected by alpha-Gal syndrome.

Alpha Gal (Individual) 

Measures the patient’s alpha-Gal allergy response, a tick-related allergic reaction to a sugar found in red meats, including beef, pork, venison, and lamb, beneficial in the diagnosis of delayed reactions to red meat.

Specimen Requirement

Tick Bite Induced Meat Allergy Panel

Serum: 1 mL

Alpha Gal (Individual)

Serum: .5 mL