A hornet sting that left your hand swollen for days, or hives that spread after a sting in the garden? Hornets belong to the same insect family as common wasps, and their venoms overlap a lot. Our test checks for IgE to two bald-faced hornet venom proteins, as part of 300 allergens and allergen components, next to common wasp, paper wasp and honeybee venom.
A hornet sting hurts and swells at the sting site for almost everyone. That is the venom itself, not an allergy.
A large local reaction is swelling of more than about 10 cm around the sting, often growing for a day or two. A systemic reaction is anything away from the sting: hives across the body, swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, dizziness, vomiting or feeling faint.
A systemic reaction to a sting is an emergency. Call 112 (EU) or your local emergency number straight away. Do not wait for a test. Anyone who has had one should see a doctor or allergist afterwards.
The name "hornet" covers different insects. In Europe it usually means the large European hornet (Vespa crabro). The bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) is a North American insect, and despite its name it is closer to common wasps and to the European tree wasps.
All of them belong to the vespid family, and their venoms share main allergens. Antigen 5 is the clearest example: Dol m 5 from the bald-faced hornet is very similar to Ves v 5 from the common wasp and to antigen 5 in European hornet venom. So IgE to Dol m 5 usually travels with IgE to Ves v 5, and both point to vespid venom sensitisation in general.
Dol m 2 is a hyaluronidase, an enzyme found in both wasp and bee venoms. Hyaluronidases are partly similar across these insects, which is one reason bee and wasp results sometimes overlap.
IgE to hornet venom proteins shows sensitisation. It is fairly common in people who have been stung without a big reaction, so a positive result does not predict how you will react next time. A negative result after a clear systemic reaction also needs a doctor's review, because levels can be low in the first weeks after a sting.
A doctor or allergist puts your sting history, the insect if you saw it, and your results together, and decides on next steps.
The lab measures IgE to two single bald-faced hornet venom proteins. European hornet (Vespa) venom is not on the panel, but because antigen 5 is shared so closely across the vespid family, Dol m 5 and Ves v 5 give a useful picture of vespid sensitisation. Your lab report gives each value a class from Negative to Very high. Any reaction beyond the sting site is a doctor topic whatever the class.
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One finger-prick sample checks IgE to 300 allergens and allergen components, from birch and peanut to cat and house dust mite. Post it to the lab, and about 5 days after it arrives you get a value for every one. Our plain-English guide shows you how to read them. €399 in total, €1.33 per allergen.
They are closely related. Hornets and common wasps belong to the same family and share main venom allergens such as antigen 5. Many people sensitised to one show IgE to the other. A doctor or allergist looks at the full result pattern and your sting history.
A hornet sting can hurt more, but the allergic risk depends on your sensitisation, not the insect's size. Hives, throat swelling or trouble breathing after any sting is an emergency: call 112 (EU) or your local emergency number.
Not directly. The panel has two bald-faced hornet proteins plus common wasp and paper wasp venom. Their antigen 5 proteins are very similar to the European hornet's, so they give a useful picture of vespid sensitisation for your doctor.
IgE levels can be low in the first weeks after a sting. If you had a systemic reaction, a doctor or allergist should plan testing; do not rely on timing a home test yourself.
