--- title: Dog & Cat Allergy Test Test type: test id: pet-allergy url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/dog-and-cat-allergy" price_usd: 89.99 lab_fee_usd: 6 all_in_usd: 95.99 cpt: 86003 category: Allergy sample: Blood draw fasting_required: false results_in: "3–5 business days" labs: - Quest orderable: true reviewed_at: 2026-09-14 order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=dog-and-cat-allergy&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown" --- # Dog & Cat Allergy Test Test > Dog & Cat Allergy Test measures Dog Dander IgE and Cat Dander IgE from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $89.99 plus a $6 lab fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 3–5 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Price | $89.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($95.99 all-in for this test alone) | | CPT code | 86003 | | Sample | Blood draw | | Fasting | Not required | | Results | 3–5 business days | | Labs | Quest Diagnostics | | Biomarkers measured | 2 | | Physician authorization | Included — no doctor's visit, referral or insurance needed | | Payment | Card, HSA or FSA; cash-pay only (no insurance billing) | ## What does the Dog & Cat Allergy Test test tell you? Find out whether you're allergic to cats or dogs. A blood test for people that measures IgE antibodies to pet dander — this is not a veterinary test for your pet. This is a blood test for people who suspect they're allergic to cats or dogs — it is not a veterinary test for a pet's allergies. It measures IgE antibodies specific to dog and cat allergens. Human pet allergies are triggered by proteins found in an animal's dander (dead skin flakes), saliva, and urine — not their fur. Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and asthma exacerbation. Knowing which animal you react to helps guide decisions about pet ownership, environmental control, and treatment. **Clinical use:** Measures allergen-specific IgE antibodies to cat and dog dander in the blood, identifying or confirming a pet allergy without skin-prick testing. ## Who should order it? Anyone with sneezing, congestion, itchy or watery eyes, or asthma symptoms around cats or dogs; people deciding whether to get a pet; and those confirming a suspected pet allergy before making housing or rehoming decisions. ## Biomarkers measured - Dog Dander IgE - Cat Dander IgE ## Price by lab | Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Quest Diagnostics | $89.99 | $95.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | Rhode Island is not served. Prices are identical online and in the lab; no draw fee or physician fee is added. ## How much does a Dog & Cat Allergy Test test cost? A Dog & Cat Allergy Test test costs $89.99 at TestWell — $95.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. Ordered directly from the labs' own consumer sites, the same test lists at $99.00 at Labcorp OnDemand (list prices checked Sep 12, 2026). Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $250.00 self-pay for the same test, and often more. With insurance, what you pay depends on your deductible and your plan's negotiated rate; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and is HSA/FSA-eligible. | Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $89.99 | $95.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order | | Labcorp OnDemand (Labcorp's own site) | $99.00 | $99.00 | [list price checked 2026-09-12](https://www.ondemand.labcorp.com/lab-tests/dog-and-cat-allergy-test) | | Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $250.00 | $250.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher | ## How do you prepare? No fasting required. ## Related conditions - Allergic rhinitis due to animal dander (J30.81) - Allergic asthma (J45.909) - Atopy / allergic sensitization (Z91.040) ## Is the Dog & Cat Allergy Test worth it? > Worth it when you keep reacting around dogs or cats — congestion, itchy eyes, wheezing — and want to know for certain before rehoming a pet, choosing one, or committing to allergy treatment. One blood draw measures your IgE response to both dog and cat dander, and you don't have to stop antihistamines to take it. Note the direction: this tests YOU, not your pet. ### Worth it if you… - Sneezing, congestion, itchy or watery eyes, or asthma flares that track with being around dogs or cats - Deciding whether to get (or foster) a pet when you suspect you might be allergic - Confirming the pet is actually the trigger before major decisions - symptoms often turn out to be dust mites or pollen the pet carries in - Anyone who can't pause antihistamines for a skin-prick test - blood IgE isn't affected by allergy medication ### You can probably wait if you… - You want to test what your DOG or CAT is allergic to - that's veterinary testing through your vet, not a human lab test - You've had severe or anaphylactic reactions - skip straight to an allergist, who can test comprehensively and plan treatment safely - You have no symptoms and no upcoming pet decision - sensitization without symptoms isn't clinically meaningful, so screening 'just to know' rarely changes anything ### At home or in the lab? At-home collection is not recommended for this test. This is a standard venous blood draw at a Quest or Labcorp location - walk in, no appointment needed. No fasting, and no need to stop antihistamines beforehand (the main practical advantage over skin-prick testing). $89.99 self-pay covers both dog and cat dander IgE; comparable allergist visits with skin testing typically run $150-$300+ without insurance. ### How do you read the results? | Result | Typical adult range | What an out-of-range value can mean | | --- | --- | --- | | Dog dander IgE / Cat dander IgE | Class 0 (undetectable) = no sensitization | Each allergen is reported as an IgE level with a class grade. Class 0 with symptoms points away from pet allergy (consider dust mites, mold, pollen). Rising classes indicate increasing sensitization - combined with symptoms around animals, that confirms the allergy and gives an allergist objective data if you pursue immunotherapy. | _This section medically reviewed; last reviewed 2026-08-03._ ## Common questions about the Dog & Cat Allergy Test test ### Is this an allergy test for my pet (dog or cat)? No — this is a blood test for people. It tells you whether you are allergic to cats or dogs by measuring allergen-specific IgE in your blood. If you want to find out what your dog or cat is allergic to, that's a veterinary test and your vet can arrange it. ### How much does a cat or dog allergy test cost? On TestWell the cat and dog allergy blood test is $89.99 (plus a $6 physician review fee) for both dander IgE results from one draw at Quest — no allergist appointment. The same two-allergen test is $99 at Labcorp OnDemand and about $99 at Quest Health (checked September 2026). Seeing an allergist for skin-prick testing typically means a $150–$300 consultation plus per-allergen testing charges, though insurance often covers it once a referral is in place. Veterinary allergy testing for your pet is priced separately by your vet, usually $200–$300 for a serum panel. ### What does the dog and cat allergy test measure? It measures allergen-specific IgE antibodies to cat and dog dander in your blood. Elevated IgE to an allergen indicates your immune system is sensitized to it, which — combined with symptoms — confirms an allergy. ### Is a blood allergy test as accurate as a skin test? Blood (specific IgE) testing and skin-prick testing are both validated and clinically accepted. Blood testing is convenient (one draw, no allergen exposure), doesn't require stopping antihistamines beforehand, and is preferred when skin testing isn't practical — e.g., severe eczema, or for people who can't pause allergy medications. ### Do I need to fast or stop antihistamines for this test? No. Unlike skin testing, a blood IgE test isn't affected by antihistamines, and no fasting is required — you can test any time. ### What is the CPT code for a pet allergy blood test? Allergen-specific IgE tests are billed under CPT 86003 (one unit per allergen), so a combined cat + dog panel covers two allergens. The result is reported per allergen with a class/level indicating the degree of sensitization. ### Can I be allergic to dogs or cats but have negative results? Occasionally. IgE testing reflects sensitization; some people have symptoms driven by other triggers (dust mites, mold) or non-allergic irritation. If results are negative but symptoms persist, a broader environmental allergy panel can help pinpoint the cause. ### How do I decide between blood testing and seeing an allergist? For the specific question 'am I allergic to my dog or cat?', the blood test answers it for $89.99 without an appointment — see our full [pet allergy testing guide](https://www.test-well.com/guides/pet-allergy-testing) for how it works and what to do with the result. An allergist visit makes sense when symptoms are severe, multiple triggers are suspected, or you're considering immunotherapy (allergy shots). ### Is this test for me or for my pet? For you. It measures allergen-specific IgE in your blood to tell you whether you're allergic to dogs or cats. If your pet is the itchy one, allergy testing for animals is arranged through a veterinarian - human labs can't run it. ### How much does a dog and cat allergy test cost without insurance? $89.99 self-pay on TestWell for both allergens from one draw, versus $99 at Quest Direct and $150-$300+ for an allergist visit with skin testing. Billed under CPT 86003 (one unit per allergen) - HSA/FSA eligible. ### Do I need to stop my allergy medications first? No. Unlike skin-prick testing, blood IgE results aren't affected by antihistamines, so you can test while staying on your medication. No fasting required either - walk in any time. ### The test is positive - do I have to rehome my pet? Usually not. Most confirmed pet allergies are managed with exposure control - a pet-free bedroom, HEPA filtration, regular pet washing, hard flooring - and, when symptoms warrant, immunotherapy through an allergist, which builds long-term tolerance. See our full pet allergy guide for the complete playbook. ### Is there a dog-only allergy test (and is it cheaper)? Ordering dog dander IgE alone rarely saves money - at most labs a single-allergen IgE runs $60-$90 on its own. TestWell's $89.99 test covers BOTH dog and cat dander from the same draw, which matters because symptoms around one animal are frequently triggered by sensitization to the other (or to both). If the dog is truly your only question, the combined result simply answers it with the cat data as a bonus. ### How do I know if I'm allergic to cats specifically? Cat allergy is usually driven by the Fel d 1 protein - carried in cat saliva and skin flakes, not fur length - which is why 'hypoallergenic' cat breeds still trigger most cat-allergic people. A cat dander IgE blood test tells you whether you're sensitized; combined with symptoms around cats, that confirms it. Fel d 1 is sticky and lingers in a home for months after a cat leaves, so reactions in a previous cat-owner's home don't require a cat to be present. ### Blood IgE test vs skin-prick testing at an allergist - which should I do? For a focused pet question, the blood test is usually the practical first step: no referral, no stopping antihistamines, $89.99, and results in 3-5 days. Skin-prick testing at an allergist tests dozens of allergens at once and pairs naturally with a treatment plan (including immunotherapy), but typically costs $150-$300+ without insurance and requires pausing antihistamines for several days. Many people do the blood test first and bring a positive result to an allergist if they want treatment. ## How to order 1. Add to cart: https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=dog-and-cat-allergy&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown 2. Create an account or sign in, confirm your state and preferred lab, pay by card, HSA or FSA. 3. A licensed physician authorizes the order (usually within minutes); the requisition arrives by email. 4. Walk into any Quest Diagnostics patient service center — no appointment needed at most sites. 5. Results post to your TestWell portal in 3–5 business days with reference ranges and flags. ## Related - [Pet Allergy Testing: Find Out if You're Allergic to Dogs or Cats](https://www.test-well.com/guides/pet-allergy-testing) - [Alpha-Gal Allergy Test](https://www.test-well.com/tests/alpha-gal-allergy-test) — $54.99 - [Latex Allergy Test](https://www.test-well.com/tests/latex-allergy-test) — $39.99 - [Seafood & Shellfish Allergy Test](https://www.test-well.com/tests/seafood-shellfish-allergy) — $114.99 - [Tree Nut & Peanut Allergy Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/tree-nut-peanut-allergy) — $122.99 - [Tryptase](https://www.test-well.com/tests/tryptase-test) — $71.99 - [All Allergy tests](https://www.test-well.com/tests/category/allergy) - [Full test directory](https://www.test-well.com/tests/directory) --- Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-09-14. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/tests/dog-and-cat-allergy Machine-readable catalog: https://www.test-well.com/api/catalog.json · MCP server: https://www.test-well.com/mcp · Overview for agents: https://www.test-well.com/llms.txt Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.