The only way to treat your allergy symptoms is to determine exactly what is causing them. This is done through a series of allergy tests.
How Is a Skin Test Performed?
A skin prick test is the most common form of allergy testing. This test involves placing a small drop of an allergen extract on your skin with a plastic device and lightly spinning the tip to allow a small amount of allergen to enter just below the surface of the skin. After 15 minutes, any swelling or redness is measured and, depending on the size, is considered a positive reaction.
An intradermal skin test may be completed next, which involves injecting a small amount of allergen under the skin with a needle. After 15 minutes any reactions are measured and classified as either positive or negative.
How Does a Blood Test Work?
A blood test is used to measure how much of an allergen-specific antibody, called IgE, is in your blood. The more allergen specific IgE in your blood, the more likely you are to be allergic. Blood tests may also be used in lieu of skin tests if a serious allergy makes skin testing unsafe or the skin test results are difficult to interpret.
How Are Food Allergies Tested?
Food allergies may be tested by a skin test or by a blood draw, similar to environmental allergy testing.
How Is Alpha-Gal Syndrome Tested?
Alpha-gal syndrome is evaluated through a combination of clinical history and blood testing to measure IgE antibodies to alpha-gal. Because the delayed timing of reactions can make alpha-gal syndrome easy to miss, a detailed review of symptoms and tick exposure history is an important part of the evaluation. Learn more about Alpha-Gal Syndrome →
How Is Penicillin Allergy Testing Done?
Penicillin allergy testing follows a structured process that typically includes a physician consultation to review your history, skin testing if recommended, and an oral challenge if appropriate. The full process usually takes 2 to 3 hours and is a safe, effective way to determine whether you can take penicillin. Over 90% of people labeled as penicillin-allergic test negative upon evaluation, so testing can open up important treatment options. Learn more about Penicillin Allergy Testing →
Call Midwest Allergy & Asthma at (651) 702-0750 for more information or to schedule an appointment.