Our body has sensors to protect it from harmful elements. However, there are times when the body perceives things that are usually harmless as a threat. This is what happens when you have allergies. Some people are more sensitive to animal dander, mold, pollen, and certain types of food, which trigger their body to react negatively. Depending on how one comes in contact with an allergen, the body’s reaction may lead to various allergic reactions. If you want to avoid the factors that trigger your allergies, you will need to undergo allergy testing.
What is allergy testing?
Allergy testing is a medical exam done to identify substances that trigger your body to have an allergic reaction. There are two ways that the test can be done.
- Blood test
- Skin test
A blood test is performed by extracting blood samples from your body. The samples are then sent to a laboratory for evaluation. To determine the specific factors that trigger your allergic reaction, blood tests for allergies find and measure the number of allergen-specific antibodies present in your blood. These antibodies are produced by your body naturally to fight what it deems harmful. There are two types of blood tests that can help diagnose your allergy:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, also known as ELISA
- Radioallergosorbent test, also known as RAST
Using blood test to check for allergies has its advantages and disadvantages:
- Pros:
- Best choice for babies and younger children
- Can be taken any time, despite any medications being taken by a patient
- Expensive
- Ideal for people with existing skin conditions
- Preferable choice for people who are afraid of needles as this type of allergy test only uses a single needle to draw out blood samples, as compared to a skin test which uses several needles
- Very safe and the risk for allergic reactions is low
- Cons:
- Costs may not be covered by health insurance
- Has a high false positive rate
- More costly than skin test
A skin test can be done in three different ways:
- Intradermal test
- This is done by introducing a tiny amount of allergen into the skin using an injection.
- Patch test
- This is done by sticking an allergen patch on the arm or back of a patient.
- Scratch test
- This is done by pricking or scratching certain spots of the skin with a small amount of a possible allergen.
Skin tests are generally safe, but may cause mild irritation as you will be exposed to a minuscule amount of allergen that may cause a reaction. If is crucial that you let your doctor know if you suddenly feel any of these symptoms following your skin test gba333 login:
- Breathing problems
- Difficulty swallowing
- Fever
- Lightheadedness
- Inflammation on the face, lips or mouth
- Skin rash that is spread widely
The advantages and disadvantages of skin testing are as follows:
- Pros:
- Can identify weaker allergic reactions (intradermal test)
- Costs less than blood test
- Costs covered by most health insurance
- False negative results rarely happen
- Cons:
- Allergic reactions may happen during testing
- Has a high false positive rate
- More costly than skin test
- Possible risk of anaphylactic reaction, although extremely rare
When should an allergy test be done?
You may need to undergo an allergy test if you exhibit allergy symptoms, such as:
- Clogged or runny nose
- Coughing
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty in breathing
- Itchy eyes
- Hives
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Vomiting
What are the common allergy symptoms that skin tests can screen?
The most common allergy symptoms that skin tests can screen are:
- Food:
- Dairy
- Egg
- Peanuts
- Shellfish
- Soy
- Wheat
- Inhalants:
- Animal dander
- Cockroaches
- Dust mites
- Molds
- Pollen (seasonal allergen)
- Latex:
- Balloons
- Condoms
- Rubber balls
- Medications:
- Antibiotics
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Insulin
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Venom from stinging insects:
- Bees
- Hornets
- Wasps
- Yellow jackets
What should be done to prepare for an allergy test?
Your doctor will ask you about your family medical history, lifestyle, medicines that you are taking, and other factors relating to your condition prior to your allergy testing. The information that you will provide is important as this will enable your doctor to know and instruct on what you should do to prepare for your allergy testing. Most likely, you will be asked to avoid taking medications, especially antihistamines, that could affect your results.
Some types of allergy testing may take time to complete, so it is best to check with your doctor about the duration of a specific test so you can plan your schedule ahead of time and be able to carve out a sufficient amount of time for your medical appointment.
Where should you go for an allergy test?
Although you may have seen at-home allergy testing kits being sold nowadays, we do not recommend doing the test on your own. Especially when your risk of undergoing anaphylactic shock is high due to allergic reactions. Anaphylactic reactions can be life-threatening and dangerous if no urgent medical intervention is done. Hence, you should only go to a qualified and trained medical provider for allergy testing.
Likewise, the results of your allergy test should be interpreted by an experienced doctor. Doing this on your own may result in unnecessary and unhealthy lifestyle changes.
What happens if my results show that you have certain allergies?
If your results come back showing that you have allergies, then you and your doctor will need to start working on a treatment plan that is focused on how you can best avoid your factors that will trigger your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend any of the following:
- Avoiding certain foods, if you have food allergies
- Getting allergy shots or immunotherapy
- Having emergency epinephrine with you at all times, especially for patients with life-threatening allergy reactions
- Taking medications, such as antihistamines or corticosteroid
- Using nasal spray or air filters at home to improve breathing
Can allergies infect other people?
Allergies cannot be spread from one person to another.
How long do allergies last?
You may experience allergic reactions for as long as you are exposed to the substance that triggers your symptoms. Allergic reactions may subside in a few hours after you have removed the allergen or once you have taken medication to control your reaction.
Does allergy need emergency treatment?
You will need emergency treatment when you are experiencing difficulty in breathing or anaphylactic shock due to your allergic reaction. This can be fatal, so it is crucial that you get treatment urgently.
Zest Clinic
Precious Medical Centre
80 Marine Parade Road
#01-11B Parkway Parade
Singapore 449269
+65 9176 9378
