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If your asthma keeps flaring despite regular inhaler use, or a chest scan shows unusual patterns in your airways, your doctor may check this blood test for IgE antibodies against Aspergillus fumigatus, a common mold. It helps identify allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, a condition where the immune system overreacts to mold that has colonised the airways rather than invaded the lung tissue, seen mostly in people who already have asthma or cystic fibrosis. The test result is read alongside a total IgE measurement and, often, chest imaging - none of these findings stands alone, and the combination is what current diagnostic criteria are built around, not any single number.
Your report gives a numeric IgE value specific to Aspergillus fumigatus, measured in kUA/L, which your doctor compares against the diagnostic threshold for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. A result above that threshold, combined with a raised total IgE, meets the two essential criteria doctors look for; findings such as eosinophil counts, chest imaging, and Aspergillus-specific IgG add weight but are not required alone. Because this test targets one specific mold, a negative result does not rule out an allergic reaction to a different fungus - your doctor may order more tests if symptoms strongly suggest a fungal allergy.
Aspergillus fumigatus is the species most consistently linked to allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, so it gets tested specifically rather than folded into a broader mold allergy panel. The distinction matters because treatment and monitoring for this condition differ from general mold allergy management.
A raised Aspergillus fumigatus IgE by itself describes sensitisation, meaning your immune system reacts to the mold, but sensitisation alone is common in people with asthma and does not necessarily mean allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is present. Diagnostic criteria require this finding alongside a raised total IgE level before other supporting features, including chest imaging and eosinophil counts, are weighed.
A result close to the cutoff is sometimes repeated, since IgE levels can fluctuate, particularly around a respiratory infection or a recent asthma flare. Your doctor may also check Aspergillus-specific IgG at the same time, since a positive IgG alongside a borderline IgE can still support treatment for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis when the overall picture fits.
No, this test looks specifically for IgE against Aspergillus fumigatus, one mold species, rather than a broad panel of environmental molds. A separate broader panel would be used if a different mold allergy is suspected.
On its own, it confirms sensitisation to Aspergillus fumigatus, meaning your immune system reacts to it. Confirming allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis also requires a raised total IgE level and, usually, supporting chest imaging or eosinophil findings.
A result below the diagnostic cutoff used for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is generally reported as negative. Ranges vary by lab and assay, so use the cutoff printed on your own report.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
A recent infection or asthma flare can shift IgE levels temporarily, which is one reason a borderline result is sometimes repeated rather than acted on immediately. Tell your doctor about any recent illness when you're tested.
There's no fixed preparation tied to this specific test. Ask your doctor or the centre when you book, especially if other blood tests are being drawn at the same time.
Not automatically - IgE and IgG are separate tests measuring different immune responses. Your doctor may order both together when allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is suspected, since they answer different parts of the diagnostic picture.
Yes, levels often fall with corticosteroid treatment for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, so your doctor may repeat the test later to help judge how well treatment is working.