Wasp venom allergy
Last summer's wasp sting swelled up your whole forearm? Wasp venom is a common insect allergen in Europe, and the size of a reaction is worth taking seriously. Our test checks for IgE antibodies to wasp venom proteins, as part of 300 allergens and allergen components. A sting reaction beyond the sting site is something to discuss with a doctor, whatever your result.
- Group
- Insects
- Season
- Mostly July to September in central Europe, peaking in late summer
- Also known as
- wasp sting, yellow jacket, Vespula, Ves v 1, Ves v 5, hornet
Where you meet it
- Common wasps and yellow jackets (Vespula), the usual culprits in Europe
- Outdoor eating, bins, fruit trees and sweet drinks in late summer
- Gardens, sheds, roof spaces and wall cavities where nests are built
- Hornets (Vespa) and paper wasps (Polistes), which have related venoms
Normal sting, large local reaction, or something more
Almost everyone gets pain, redness and swelling at the sting site. That is the venom itself, not an allergy.
A large local reaction is swelling of more than about 10 cm around the sting, often building over 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.
Wasp venom and bee venom are different
Wasps and honeybees belong to different insect groups and their venoms contain different main allergens. Ves v 1 and Ves v 5 are typical of wasp venom. Some people show IgE to both venoms. Sometimes that is real double sensitisation; sometimes the antibodies recognise sugar structures shared by both, which often matter little clinically. Single venom proteins help tell these apart: Ves v 1 and Ves v 5 for wasp, Api m 1 and Api m 10 for honeybee, all on the panel.
Knowing which insect stung you, and which venom your result points to, is useful for the doctor. Wasps usually fly away after stinging; honeybees usually leave the sting behind.
What a result can and cannot tell you
IgE to wasp venom shows sensitisation. It is fairly common in people who have been stung without any big reaction, so a positive result on its own does not predict how you will react next time. A negative result after a clear systemic reaction also needs a doctor's review, because timing matters: soon after a sting, levels can be low.
A doctor or allergist puts your sting history and results together and decides on next steps.
How our test checks wasp venom
The lab measures IgE to two common wasp (Vespula) venom proteins and to paper wasp (Polistes) venom. Honeybee venom and bald-faced hornet venom proteins are reported separately on the same panel. Your lab report gives each a measured value and class, from Negative to Very high, which describes the result. For stings, any reaction beyond the sting site is a doctor topic whatever the class.
- Ves v 1: phospholipase A1 from common wasp venom
- Ves v 5: antigen 5 from common wasp venom
- Paper wasp: whole venom extract and Pol d 5
Known cross-reactions
- Honeybee venom
- Different main allergens from wasp venom. Double sensitisation happens, sometimes due to shared sugar structures (CCDs) with little clinical meaning. A doctor interprets it.
- Hornets and paper wasps
- Related venoms. Sensitisation to wasp venom often overlaps with hornet venom. Bald-faced hornet (Dol m 2, Dol m 5) and paper wasp are on the panel; the European hornet (Vespa) is not.
Sources
- EAACI Molecular Allergology User's Guide 2.0. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 2023.
- Insect stings: clinical features and management. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 2012.
- Diagnosis of Hymenoptera venom allergy. Allergy (EAACI position paper), 2005.
Page last updated
300 allergens. One test.
A finger-prick sample at home, sent by post. A detailed lab report typically 5 days after the lab receives your sample, and our plain-English guide to reading it. €300, €1 per allergen.
Questions
My arm swelled up after a wasp sting. Is that an allergy?
A swelling larger than about 10 cm around the sting is called a large local reaction. It is worth raising with a doctor. Hives elsewhere, throat swelling or trouble breathing is an emergency: call 112 (EU) or your local emergency number.
Does a negative result mean I am safe from stings?
No test result makes stings safe. If you have had a reaction beyond the sting site, see a doctor or allergist whatever the result shows.
Do you test bee venom too?
Yes. Honeybee venom is on the panel as a whole extract and as three single proteins (Api m 1, Api m 2 and Api m 10), reported separately from wasp venom because the venoms are different. The What we test page lists every allergen by group.
When should I test after a sting?
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.