Allergy Test

Are you frequently experiencing allergic symptoms after being exposed to dust, pollen, pets, or after eating certain foods?  Do you experience itchiness, watery eyes, wheezing, vomiting or difficulty in breathing?  If yes, it’s time to see an allergy specialist right away and have an allergy test.

How is an allergy test done?  Usually, to test a person with an allergy, a skin-prick test is recommended.  The person being tested will be pricked with an “allergen” on his skin to test whether he is allergic to the substance of not.  If he is, the reaction will be seen on the skin.  When itchiness, redness or swelling occurs, that only means that the person is allergic to that substance.

Another way to test allergic disorder is through blood test.  It is also known as Radio AllergoSorbent Test or RAST test.  Blood sample is taken from the person being tested.  In the laboratory, the blood is exposed to different allergens.  This is done to measure the amount of immunoglobulin present in the blood.  Immunoglobulin is the chemical released in the blood cells when an “allergen” enters the body.  More than 400 kinds of allergens can be used to test which specific substance triggers the allergic reaction in the person.

Food allergy screening test is another type of allergy test that is used to specifically identify food allergies.  If you are allergic to milk, shrimp, fish, egg, wheat, soya or nuts, you can be tested using a food allergy screening test.  If you are allergic to nuts, you can undergo a nut screening test to identify which specific type of nut you’re allergic to.

Just like a food allergy screening test, the challenge test is done by exposing the person to different foods that are concealed in a capsule or broth.  During this test, resuscitation equipment are on stand by in case a certain the patient shows severe allergic reactions.

If you have a skin allergy, you may also be tested using the patch test.  This is done by taping allergens on the skin under aluminum discs for 48 hours.  This is because some skin allergies take some time to respond.  A person who is allergic to cosmetics, dyes, medicines and metal elements are often tested this way. 

These are just some examples of tests that are conducted to determine the exact cause of a person’s allergic attacks.  If you are suffering from allergy symptoms, going through an allergy test is certainly the best way to find the most appropriate treatment for you.