Everything You Need to Know About Allergy Testing

Allergy testing is an exam your doctor uses to determine whether your body has an allergic reaction to a specific substance. It involves your doctor exposing you to a tiny amount of a particular allergen and observing the reaction. Pet dander, certain medications, bee stings, mold, and specific food types are common allergens. Allergy testing Bridgewater can be done through a skin or blood test. It helps your healthcare provider to develop the best treatment plan for your allergy. If your doctor diagnoses you have food allergies, you may require further tests.
Preparation for allergy testing
Before having an allergy test, your specialist will ask you about your medical history, lifestyle, and family history. You may have to stop some medications before your allergy test because they can alter your results. Antihistamines, systemic corticosteroids, heartburn drugs like Pepcid, and tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil are some medicines you may have to avoid.
Procedures for allergy testing
- Skin tests
Skins tests can help your specialist identify airborne, food-related, or contact allergens. There are three forms of skin tests, including scratch, intradermal and patch tests.
A scratch test is the first step. This test involves your specialist placing an allergen in a liquid and then placing the combination on a section of your skin. The specialist then lightly punctures the allergen into the surface of your skin using a unique tool. Your specialist will observe how your skin reacts to the foreign substance. If your skin swells, elevates, itches, or becomes red, you are allergic to that allergen.
If your scratch test does not show any reactions, your doctor can recommend an intradermal skin test. An intradermal skin test involves your doctor injecting a tiny amount of allergen into your dermal skin layer. The doctor monitors the reaction to see any changes over the test site.
The patch test involves your doctor placing adhesive patches loaded with suspected allergens on your skin. Patch testing helps diagnose allergic contact dermatitis cases. The patches remain on your skin even after you leave your medical facility. Your doctor will review the patches forty-eight, seventy-two or ninety-six hours after application.
Blood tests
If you are experiencing a severe allergic reaction or cannot do a skin test, your specialist may recommend a blood test. A blood test involves drawing a sample of your blood to test for the presence of antibodies responsible for fighting specific allergens. A test called ImmunoCAP is very effective in detecting IgE antibodies.
Which treatments are available for allergies?
If your doctor detects you have an allergy, you will need treatment. If your allergy results from a specific type of food, you must avoid it. Medications like antihistamines and corticosteroids can treat some types of allergies. Immunotherapy, a treatment involving shots containing small amounts of allergens, can help your body build immunity gradually.
Allergy testing helps your doctor diagnose the specific allergens causing allergic reactions in your body. It also helps your provider develop a suitable treatment for your condition. Schedule an appointment at Respacare for allergy testing to determine the allergens causing your body’s reaction.