Allergy tests are the best and safest way to tell exactly what triggers symptoms. Common triggers include: dust mites, animal dander, molds, pollen, cockroach droppings, foods and drugs. The allergen(s) are identified through a combination of a medical evaluation and allergy diagnostic testing (skin or allergy blood tests).
Types of allergy tests:
1. A skin prick test, also called a puncture or scratch test, checks for immediate allergic reactions to as many as 100 different substances at once. This test is usually done to identify allergies to pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites and foods. The test is usually done on the back and arms. This type of testing uses a device that barely penetrates the skin’s surface. There is no bleeding and feels not more than mild, momentary discomfort and mild itchiness.
2. Intradermal testing is another method of skin testing to help determine whether an individual is allergic to a specific allergen. This test immediately follows the prick test for inconclusive allergens. The test involves injection of a small amount of the suspected allergen under the surface of the skin on the arms. After about 10-15 minutes the area is examined for a reaction at the site. A typical reaction looks like a small hive with swelling and redness. The intradermal test is more sensitive than the skin prick test and can usually provide more consistent results.
Allergen reactions usually fade quickly without discomfort
3. Patch Testing involves placing a set of stickers containing allergens to a flat, clean area of the body, usually the back, and reading results later in the week. Patch testing is used commonly with determining the source of an allergen that a person reacts to upon contact.