What is Allergy Testing?
Allergy testing is an examination carried out by an allergy specialist to determine whether you have an allergic reaction to a known substance and to isolate the exact substance causing the reaction. The examination can be in the form of a blood test, a skin test, or an elimination diet.
Types of Allergy Testing Explained
Multiple tests can be carried out to determine the cause of an allergic reaction, depending on the speed of onset and the type of symptoms discussed with an allergy specialist before testing. However, it is advised that taking antihistamines should be stopped one week before the allergy testing to avoid the medication interfering with the test and producing a false negative result.
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Allergies solutions and how we can help.
A blood test for allergies is a specific test, as it measures antibodies in the blood known as IgE. This testing solution is recommended where a known, severe allergic reaction could occur upon exposure to the allergen.
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Often it becomes nearly impossible to avoid exposure to allergens that trigger your allergic response, such as bee venom or grass pollen. Allergy immunotherapy or desensitisation therapy entails specific allergen exposure with the aim of long-term desensitisation.
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The intradermal skin test is carried out if the clinician suspects an allergy is still a possibility despite a negative skin prick test. For example, this is often used to assess a venom allergy.
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A patch test is often used to detect skin inflammation reaction to an allergen (contact dermatitis). This is commonly the case where an allergic reaction is delayed and takes several days to produce a result.
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The skin prick test is carried out to assess immediate allergic reactions to various substances and is commonly performed to identify allergies to pollen, dust, dander and other foods. This test is usually performed on the forearm, where small marks can be drawn to identify each test antigen.
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