House Dust Hollister Stier H2 IgE Biomarker Testing
It measures IgE sensitization to house dust extract to help explain allergy symptoms and guide next steps, with Quest lab ordering via Vitals Vault.
With Vitals Vault, you have access to a comprehensive range of biomarker tests.
This test looks for allergen-specific IgE antibodies to a standardized “house dust” extract (HollisterStier H2). A positive result means your immune system is sensitized to something in that dust mixture, which can support an allergy explanation for symptoms.
It is most useful when your symptoms fit an allergy pattern—such as sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion, post-nasal drip, cough, or wheeze that flares indoors, during cleaning, or in certain buildings.
Because “house dust” is a blend of many potential triggers (including dust mite components, animal dander fragments, and other indoor particles), this result is often a starting point. You may still need more specific testing to pinpoint the exact allergen and to plan practical next steps with your clinician.
Do I need a House Dust Hollister Stier H2 IgE test?
You may want this test if you have recurring allergy-like symptoms that seem tied to indoor environments. Common patterns include waking up congested, symptoms that worsen when you make the bed or vacuum, or flares that improve when you are away from home.
This test can also be helpful if you are trying to sort out whether your symptoms are more likely allergic (IgE-mediated) versus non-allergic irritation, viral illness, reflux, or chronic sinus issues. If you have asthma, eczema, or chronic rhinitis, identifying sensitizations can help your clinician tailor avoidance strategies and decide whether additional allergy testing is worth it.
You generally do not need this test for a one-off cold, short-lived sinus symptoms, or symptoms that clearly track with a specific food exposure. And if you have had a severe allergic reaction (trouble breathing, fainting, throat swelling), you should seek urgent care rather than relying on lab testing.
Your result should be interpreted alongside your history and exam. Testing supports clinician-directed care and does not diagnose allergy on its own.
This is a laboratory-developed, CLIA-validated allergen-specific IgE blood test; results indicate sensitization and must be interpreted with your symptoms rather than used as a standalone diagnosis.
Lab testing
Order House Dust (H2) IgE through Vitals Vault and complete your draw at Quest.
Schedule online, results typically within about a week
Clear reporting and optional clinician context
HSA/FSA eligible where applicable
Get this test with Vitals Vault
Vitals Vault lets you order allergen-specific IgE testing without a referral and complete your blood draw through the Quest network. That can be useful when you already suspect an indoor trigger and want objective data to bring to your next appointment.
After your results post, you can use PocketMD to translate the number into plain language, review common reasons for false positives or confusing results, and decide what to test next (for example, dust mite–specific IgE, pet dander IgE, or a broader inhalant allergy panel).
If your result is positive and your symptoms match, you can use the information to focus on targeted environmental steps and to discuss medication options or allergy referral with your clinician. If it is negative, you can pivot sooner toward other causes of chronic congestion or cough and avoid chasing the wrong trigger.
- Order online and draw at a Quest location
- PocketMD helps you interpret results and plan follow-up testing
- Easy re-testing to track changes over time when clinically appropriate
Key benefits of House Dust Hollister Stier H2 IgE testing
- Helps confirm whether an indoor “dust” trigger is plausible for your symptoms.
- Provides objective evidence of IgE sensitization when symptoms are vague or overlapping.
- Supports more targeted follow-up testing (for example, dust mite components vs broader indoor mixes).
- Can guide practical home and workplace exposure-reduction priorities when symptoms fit the pattern.
- Adds context for asthma, chronic rhinitis, or eczema management when allergic triggers are suspected.
- Helps you and your clinician avoid unnecessary elimination strategies when the result is negative.
- Creates a baseline you can compare over time if you retest after environmental changes or treatment.
What is House Dust Hollister Stier H2 IgE?
House Dust HollisterStier H2 IgE is an allergen-specific IgE blood test. It measures whether your immune system has made IgE antibodies that recognize proteins found in a standardized “house dust” extract (often labeled H2).
IgE is the antibody class involved in immediate-type allergy. If you are sensitized, exposure can trigger mast cells and basophils to release histamine and other mediators, which can lead to symptoms such as sneezing, itching, runny nose, congestion, watery eyes, cough, or wheeze.
A key nuance is that “house dust” is not a single substance. It is a mixture that can contain particles from multiple indoor sources. That means a positive result tells you sensitization to the mixture, but it may not identify the exact culprit (for example, dust mites vs pet dander vs other indoor allergens).
Sensitization vs clinical allergy
A positive IgE result means sensitization, not automatically symptoms. Clinical allergy is when sensitization matches your real-world reactions and timing. Some people have detectable IgE but minimal symptoms, while others have strong symptoms with modest IgE levels.
Why blood testing can be useful
Blood IgE testing can be done even if you cannot stop antihistamines (which can interfere with skin testing). It is also a practical option when you want to start with a single suspected trigger before moving to a broader panel.
What do my House Dust Hollister Stier H2 IgE results mean?
Low or undetectable House Dust (H2) IgE
A low or undetectable result makes an IgE-mediated reaction to the house dust extract less likely. If you still have strong indoor symptoms, possibilities include non-allergic rhinitis (irritant-triggered), chronic sinus inflammation, viral triggers, reflux, or an allergen not well represented in the H2 mix. Your clinician may suggest testing more specific indoor allergens (like dust mite species) or looking for non-allergic causes depending on your history.
In-range results (lab-dependent cutoffs)
Allergen-specific IgE is typically reported as a numeric value with lab-specific categories (often “negative,” “equivocal,” or graded classes). An “in-range” or borderline result can be tricky: it may reflect low-level sensitization that only matters with high exposure, or it may be clinically irrelevant. The most important check is whether your symptoms reliably worsen with indoor dust exposure and improve with avoidance or treatment.
High House Dust (H2) IgE
A high result suggests stronger sensitization to the house dust extract and increases the likelihood that indoor exposure contributes to your symptoms—especially if your symptom timing fits. It does not predict reaction severity by itself, and it does not prove which specific indoor allergen is responsible. High results often lead to follow-up testing for individual indoor allergens (dust mites, cat/dog dander, cockroach, molds) so you can act on a clearer target.
Factors that influence House Dust (H2) IgE
Your result can be influenced by overall atopic tendency (having eczema, asthma, or multiple allergies), recent or ongoing high exposure, and cross-reactivity between similar allergen proteins. Total IgE can be elevated for reasons unrelated to a single allergen, which can sometimes make low-level positives harder to interpret. Age, season, and living environment changes can shift results over time, so retesting is usually only helpful when your exposures or symptoms have meaningfully changed or when you are monitoring a clinician-guided plan.
What’s included
- House Dust (Hollister- Stier) (H2) Ige
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to fast for a House Dust (H2) IgE blood test?
Fasting is not typically required for allergen-specific IgE testing. If you are combining it with other labs (like lipids or glucose), follow the fasting instructions for the full set of tests you ordered.
What does “HollisterStier H2” mean on my lab report?
It refers to the standardized allergen extract and code used by the lab for “house dust” testing. Different labs may use different codes, but the intent is the same: measuring IgE antibodies to a house dust mixture.
Is a positive House Dust (H2) IgE the same as a dust mite allergy?
Not necessarily. House dust extracts can include multiple indoor components, and a positive result indicates sensitization to the mixture. If you want to know whether dust mites are the main driver, your clinician may recommend dust mite–specific IgE testing (often for Dermatophagoides species) or a broader indoor allergen panel.
Can antihistamines affect this IgE blood test?
Antihistamines generally do not change allergen-specific IgE blood test results, which is one reason blood testing can be convenient. They can affect skin prick testing, so tell your clinician what you are taking if you are comparing methods.
How soon after symptoms start should I test?
You can test at any time because allergen-specific IgE reflects sensitization rather than a short-lived “flare” marker. Testing is most helpful when you can clearly describe your symptom pattern and exposures (home, work, pets, humidity, cleaning).
When should I retest House Dust (H2) IgE?
Retesting is usually considered when there has been a meaningful change—such as moving homes, major remediation efforts, starting allergen immunotherapy under clinician care, or a clear shift in symptoms. Many people do not need frequent retesting because management decisions are driven more by symptoms and exposure control than by small numeric changes.