Allergy Testing Specialist

How do I know if I need allergy testing?

If you’re experiencing chronic sinusitis, seasonal or year-long allergies, postnasal drip, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, you could have allergies. You’ll need to undergo allergy testing to identify what’s causing your allergy and treat your symptoms.

What can I expect from allergy testing?

The two main ways to test for allergies are skin tests or blood tests.  Skin testing for allergies is the preferred method. It’s cost-effective, accurate, and provides immediate results. Patients who have a medical condition that makes skin testing impossible can undergo blood testing.

The two kinds of skin tests are the scratch test, the most common type of skin test, and the intradermal test.

During the scratch skin test, several different allergies are tested. The allergens are applied to the skin — testing is done on an adult’s forearm and applied to a child’s back. The test can hurt slightly, and the test sites can become itchy. About 15 minutes later, your doctor will be able to determine the results. 

During an intradermal skin test, a small amount of the allergen is injected under the skin through a thin needle. This test is used on specific allergens, including bee stings and penicillin. Intradermal tests can also be used to get more conclusive results after a scratch test.

Since the test uses a tiny amount of the allergen, the test is safe. Your allergist will watch for a severe reaction, but these are rare.

What do the results from skin allergy testing mean?

The skin tests for allergic reactions determine which allergens your body reacts to. If you’re experiencing a reaction to the allergen placed on or in your skin, a small red bump will appear at the test site. The larger the bump, the more sensitive you are to the allergen.

Your allergist refers to these results as a positive skin test. Together with your medical history, these results tell your physician the correct course of action in treating your allergies.

The ENT and Allergy Specialists of VA PC team can vastly improve your life by identifying and treating your allergies. Don’t allow yourself to continue one more day the miserable cycle of allergies. Make an appointment online now or call the practice and begin treatment.