When is blood testing used?

Blood testing is particularly useful when skin testing isn’t safe or possible. This can occur if you have a serious allergy that could trigger a dangerous reaction during a skin test or if you’re taking medications like antihistamines, steroids, or antidepressants that might interfere with the results. People with conditions like asthma, heart conditions, or skin issues may also benefit from blood testing over another form.

What allergies can a blood test detect?

Blood tests are good for screening common allergens like pollen, mold, dust mites, and pet dander. They can also be used to confirm the results of other tests like the skin prick.

What are the benefits of skin prick testing?

Skin prick tests provide quick results, often within 20 to 40 minutes of exposure. This allows our team to provide an almost immediate diagnosis. Skin prick tests are commonly used to identify allergens such as pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites, and some food allergies.

How is a skin prick test different from a patch test?

While skin prick tests introduce allergens directly into the skin, patch tests are used primarily for diagnosing skin-related allergies such as rashes. Patch tests can also take several days to process, making them less convenient than skin prick tests.

What is an elimination diet?

In cases where food allergies are suspected but not clearly identified, an elimination diet can help. This involves removing specific foods from your diet for a period of time to see if symptoms improve. The foods are then reintroduced to determine whether they are causing your allergic reactions.

Why is food allergy testing important?

Identifying food allergies is critical to avoiding potentially serious allergic reactions. Knowing your triggers allows you to avoid them and helps you to develop a treatment plan that may include emergency medication like an epinephrine auto-injector.

Allergy Testing | What is Allergy Testing?

Allergy Testing Explained: How Blood, Skin Prick, and Food Allergy Tests Work

Wondering how allergy testing works? Discover the different types of allergy tests, including blood, skin prick, and food allergy tests, and learn which one might be right for you.

Allergies can significantly impact your quality of life, but comprehensive allergy testing can help pinpoint the causes of your symptoms and guide effective treatment.

At Pinnacle ENT, we offer several types of allergy testing, including blood, skin prick, and food allergy testing. Each method is designed to identify specific allergens and help provide context for personalized treatment to help you manage or eliminate your symptoms.

What is Allergy Testing?

Allergy testing is a process we use to identify substances, commonly called allergens, that trigger allergic reactions. Allergens can include pollen, mold, pet dander, and certain foods. Testing is critical for diagnosing allergic conditions and determining the best action or treatment.

There are three primary types of allergy testing available:

Blood Testing
Skin Prick Testing
Food Allergy Testing

Each type has its own method, purpose, and suitability, depending on the patient’s condition, symptoms, and medical history.

Blood Testing for Allergies

Blood tests measure allergen-specific antibodies in your blood, particularly immunoglobulin E (IgE). When you have an allergy, your body produces IgE antibodies responding to the allergens. The higher the amount of IgE, the more likely you are to have an allergy to that particular substance. The most common allergy blood test is the radioallergosorbent (RAST) test.

Skin Prick Testing

Skin prick testing is often the preferred method of allergy testing due to its accuracy, affordability, and safety. During a skin prick test, several drops of a solution containing a suspected allergen are placed on the skin. The skin is then pricked or scratched, exposing the tissue below to the allergen. If you’re allergic, the skin will react by becoming red and swollen at the site of the test.

Food Allergy Testing

Food allergies are diagnosed either through blood tests or oral food challenges. Blood tests measure allergen-specific IgE antibodies in the blood, like other allergens. However, an oral food challenge may be performed if the blood test results are inconclusive. This test involves consuming small amounts of suspected food allergens under the close medical supervision of our team. If no allergic reaction is recorded, you are likely not allergic to that food.

How to Choose the Right Allergy Test for You

Given these options, it might be difficult or overwhelming to seek out the proper testing. The type of allergy test you need depends on your specific symptoms and medical history. Blood tests are ideal for individuals who cannot undergo skin testing due to medications or severe allergies. Skin prick tests effectively identify a wide range of environmental and food allergens quickly and accurately. If food allergies are suspected, both blood and oral food tests might be used to provide a definitive diagnosis.

What to Expect After Allergy Testing

After you undergo allergy testing, our team of specialists will review your results and work with you to create a personalized treatment plan. This plan may include lifestyle changes, medications, or even immunotherapy to help manage your symptoms. While many allergy tests are available on the same day, some tests, like patch tests or food challenges, may take several days to complete.

–

At Pinnacle ENT, we offer a comprehensive range of allergy tests to help you pinpoint the allergens affecting your health and well-being. Whether you need a blood test, skin prick test, or food allergy test, our team of experts is here to guide you through the entire process and create a tailored treatment plant.

Don’t let allergies hold you back — schedule an appointment today to take control of your health and find the relief you deserve.

Book Appointment

Full-Service Allergy Testing