Allergy Skin Testing

Allergy skin testing can identify the presence of a certain types of common allergies that are often involved in causing the symptoms of ear, nose and throat allergy, asthma, skin allergy, anaphylaxis, drug allergy, food allergy and insect sting allergy.

There are main two types of allergy testing performed in our office:

a.		Allergy Prick Testing: Drops of allergens are placed on the patient’s back and subsequently slightly pricked with a special device in order to expose the skin to the allergen. When the test is positive, a hive forms at the site of exposure just beneath the allergen. The larger the hive the more allergic the patient is to that specific allergen. This is an excellent screening test for the presence of strong allergy. Negative tests are repeated using the more sensitive intradermal technique.
b.		Intradermal allergy testing is much more sensitive in detecting mild to moderate allergy than prick testing. Small amounts of allergen are injected just under the skin of the upper arm using a very small needle. Additionally young children are tested using a multitesting device which is exceedingly fast to apply and minimizes testing time for your child or infant.

Allegy testing usually takes about one hour. It is very accurate and sensitive and is the basis for much of our recommendations for treatment.