Testing for Allergies Could Cover Up to 120 Allergens in One Test

If you or your child may have an allergy, you want as much information as possible as easily and efficiently as possible. This is just one of the reasons to work with Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group. We provide comprehensive allergy testing that includes food allergies, bee allergies, medication allergies, hay fever allergies, and much more. Read on to learn more about the allergy testing process and then contact us at 805-658-9500 to make an appointment.

Using skin tests to test for allergies

Skin tests are available in numerous forms. Skin prick tests, which are sometimes called scratch tests or puncture tests, are generally performed on the forearm when they’re performed on an adult and on the back when they’re performed on a child. These types of tests are capable of testing for 40 allergies by looking to see if there is an immediate reaction to specific substances.

These tests do use needles, but the needles barely go through the skin. As a result, it’s not generally a painful test. That said, it can be itchy. When this test is administered, it takes about 15 minutes after the prick happens for the allergist to look at the skin to determine which allergies a person has.

Skin injection tests are used for specific types of allergies

In other cases, a skin injection test may be used. This is often the choice when the suspected allergen is venom or penicillin. In this case, we use a needle to inject a very small amount of the potential allergen into the skin. Just like the skin prick test, this test takes about 15 minutes of waiting before we can take a look and determine the results.

Patch tests take longer but show more potential allergens

If the situation involves a skin irritation that’s unknown, then a skin patch may be used. Instead of using a needle, a patch is put on the skin and the patient is then exposed to up to 30 different potential allergens. They wear the patch for a few days, and the patient should avoid a number of activities that could get the patch wet, such as bathing. At the end of the two days, the patient goes to their allergist to find out what the results are.

New tests can provide better allergy testing

There are new products entering the market that are showing great results. Some of them can test for up to 120 allergens, including 70 environmental allergies, ten non-inhalent allergies, and 40 food allergies, with a single finger prick. While these are showing interesting results, at Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group we like to be sure that any test we administer is both safe and effective. You can trust that we’re keeping an eye on all available tests.

No matter what you believe you may be allergic to, or if you have an allergy and no idea what the cause may be, we are here to help you. Contact Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group at 805-658-9500 right away to make an appointment. Once we discover your allergens, we can move forward with a plan to improves your quality of life.