What causes soy allergy?

Soy allergy is caused by the immune system mistakenly identifying specific proteins in soybeans as harmful substances. When you eat soy or soy-containing products, your immune system produces IgG antibodies to fight off these proteins, triggering an allergic reaction. This immune response can cause various symptoms ranging from mild skin reactions like hives and itching to more severe digestive problems or respiratory issues like wheezing.

What is the best test for soy allergy?

The Food Specific IgG Allergy (Adult) Panel is the most important test for soy allergy because it specifically measures soybean (f14) IgG antibodies in your blood. This test detects whether your immune system is producing antibodies against soy proteins, which indicates an allergic response. Elevated IgG antibody levels confirm that your body recognizes soy as a threat and helps explain symptoms like hives, digestive discomfort, or breathing difficulties. This comprehensive panel can also test for multiple food allergens simultaneously, helping identify other potential food sensitivities.

When should I get tested for soy allergy?

You should get tested if you experience hives, itching, swelling, or stomach pain after eating soy products like tofu, soy milk, edamame, or processed foods containing soy. Testing is also recommended if you have unexplained respiratory symptoms like wheezing or nasal congestion that occur after meals, or if you have digestive issues like bloating, diarrhea, or nausea that seem connected to your diet. Early testing helps you identify soy as a trigger and avoid potentially severe reactions.

What are the symptoms of soy allergy?

Soy allergy symptoms include skin reactions like hives, redness, itching, or eczema that appear shortly after eating soy products. Digestive symptoms are common and include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloating. Respiratory symptoms can include wheezing, coughing, runny nose, or difficulty breathing. In severe cases, soy allergy can cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction with symptoms like throat swelling, rapid pulse, dizziness, and a dangerous drop in blood pressure requiring immediate medical attention.

Who is at risk for soy allergy?

Infants and young children are at highest risk for soy allergy, though many outgrow it by age three. People with other food allergies, particularly to peanuts, tree nuts, or other legumes, have an increased risk of developing soy allergy due to cross-reactivity between similar proteins. Those with atopic conditions like eczema, asthma, or hay fever are more susceptible to food allergies including soy. Family history of food allergies or allergic conditions also increases your likelihood of developing soy allergy.

What happens if soy allergy is left untreated?

Untreated soy allergy can lead to repeated allergic reactions that may worsen over time, with symptoms becoming more severe with each exposure. Chronic inflammation from ongoing exposure can damage your digestive system and lead to nutritional deficiencies if you avoid foods without proper dietary planning. Most seriously, continued exposure increases the risk of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency that can cause breathing difficulties, severe drops in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. Identifying and properly managing soy allergy prevents these complications and improves quality of life.

Can soy allergy be diagnosed with a blood test?

Yes, soy allergy can be diagnosed with a blood test that measures IgG antibodies specific to soy proteins. The Food Specific IgG Allergy (Adult) Panel detects soybean (f14) IgG antibodies in your blood, indicating whether your immune system is reacting to soy. Elevated antibody levels confirm an immune response to soy and help correlate your symptoms with soy exposure. Blood testing is convenient, accurate, and helps guide dietary changes to eliminate soy from your diet and manage symptoms effectively.

How is soy allergy treated?

Soy allergy is treated primarily by strictly avoiding all soy products and foods containing soy ingredients. This means reading food labels carefully since soy appears in many processed foods as soy protein, soy lecithin, or soybean oil. Antihistamines can help manage mild allergic symptoms like hives or itching if accidental exposure occurs. For those at risk of severe reactions, your doctor will prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector to carry at all times for emergency treatment of anaphylaxis. Working with a dietitian helps ensure you maintain proper nutrition while avoiding soy.

How can I prevent soy allergy reactions?

Prevent soy allergy reactions by carefully reading all food labels and ingredient lists, looking for soy in forms like soybean oil, soy lecithin, soy protein, textured vegetable protein, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. Avoid Asian cuisines that commonly use soy sauce, tofu, and other soy products, or request soy-free preparation. When dining out, inform restaurant staff about your allergy and ask about ingredients in dishes. Keep an epinephrine auto-injector accessible if prescribed, and wear medical alert identification so others can help in emergencies.

What can I do at home for soy allergy symptoms?

At home, immediately stop eating any food containing soy if you notice symptoms developing. Take an over-the-counter antihistamine like diphenhydramine for mild symptoms such as itching, hives, or minor swelling. Apply cool compresses to affected skin areas to reduce itching and inflammation. Stay hydrated and rest while your body processes the allergen. Monitor your symptoms closely, and if you experience any difficulty breathing, throat tightness, or dizziness, use your epinephrine auto-injector immediately and call 911, as these indicate a severe reaction requiring emergency medical care.

Getting your blood test with us is easy, private & backed by the power of science.Long story short: In the test options, use the filters or search box to narrow your choices and find the test you want. If you need a hand navigating through options, text our super friendly support team at 754-799-7833, and we'll provide tailored suggestions to help you find the ideal test. Once your order is placed, we’ll create your doctor’s lab order remotely, without any need for you to make a trip to a doctor in person or to talk to the doctor. Expect to receive your doctor’s lab order right in your inbox. It will also be in your patient portal if you need to find it later. We’ll also include instructions regarding fasting and other requirements for your test. Your patient portal will be auto-created hassle-free during checkout. If this is your first time ordering, you'll be prompted to create a password for instant login access to your patient portal. It's a quick way to conveniently access your orders and results whenever you want. When you’re ready, visit one of our 4,000 locations. Just bring your ID – no printing or faxing of your lab order is needed, as your order and details will already be in the lab system. Note that most lab locations don’t accept walk-ins, so it’s best to book an appointment in advance. Don’t worry – we’ll provide detailed instructions along the way. You’ll get your results via email & SMS and dive into understanding your body better. Yup, that easy! If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com and we'll gladly help you.

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When will my lab results be available?

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Is it possible to make changes to my lab order if I made a mistake with the name, date of birth, or any other details?

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Only HSA & FSA is accepted. Our services are strictly self-pay and cannot be submitted to your health insurance provider except for Health Savings Accounts or Flexible Savings Accounts. This policy applies to all insurance companies, including federal health insurance programs like Medicare. If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com.

Can I cancel my order?

Yes. We get it – sometimes your needs change. As long as your samples haven’t been collected yet, we’re happy to help you cancel your order. If you have any further questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com. You can read more about our cancellation policy here.

How can I find a lab location near me?

During the ordering process, you’ll be able to select a specific lab near you, with no strings attached! You can switch it up later easily and visit any of our authorized locations as long as it’s the same lab company you selected your test for (Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp). Before you proceed with your order, feel free to browse through all our lab locations here. This will give you the peace of mind of knowing that there's a lab nearby your home, office or your favorite gym. If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com and we'll gladly help you.

Soy Allergy Blood Test | Private MD Labs

Soy Allergy Blood Test

What is Soy allergy?

Soy allergy is an immune system reaction to proteins found in soybeans and soy-based products. It is caused by the immune system mistakenly identifying soy proteins as harmful invaders and producing IgG antibodies against them. The Food Specific IgG Allergy (Adult) Panel is the most important test for diagnosis as it detects soy-specific IgG antibodies.

Written by Private MD Labs Medical Team

Last updated: December 30, 2025

Getting your blood test with us is easy, private & backed by the power of science.

Long story short:

In the test options, use the filters or search box to narrow your choices and find the test you want.
If you need a hand navigating through options, text our super friendly support team at 754-799-7833, and we'll provide tailored suggestions to help you find the ideal test.
Once your order is placed, we’ll create your doctor’s lab order remotely, without any need for you to make a trip to a doctor in person or to talk to the doctor. Expect to receive your doctor’s lab order right in your inbox. It will also be in your patient portal if you need to find it later. We’ll also include instructions regarding fasting and other requirements for your test. Your patient portal will be auto-created hassle-free during checkout.
If this is your first time ordering, you'll be prompted to create a password for instant login access to your patient portal. It's a quick way to conveniently access your orders and results whenever you want.
When you’re ready, visit one of our 4,000 locations. Just bring your ID – no printing or faxing of your lab order is needed, as your order and details will already be in the lab system.
Note that most lab locations don’t accept walk-ins, so it’s best to book an appointment in advance. Don’t worry – we’ll provide detailed instructions along the way.
You’ll get your results via email & SMS and dive into understanding your body better. Yup, that easy!

754-799-7833

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