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Allergy Testing your Doctor Recommends

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Written by Dorothy Medlum

Friday, 04 July 2008

by DorothyMedlum

If you think that you may be having an allergy, but you are uncertain of the specific allergen causing this allergic reaction, your doctor may suggests a variety of allergy testing to diagnose your condition. The different types of allergy tests identify a variety of allergens.

Different types of allergy testing can be used to identify various allergens. Some tests work better than others, depending on the allergy suspected. Therefore; be familiar with the various allergy tests available prior to making an appointment with your doctor. The tests available may fall into several categories including: Scratch tests, elimination tests, and blood tests.

Scratch Tests

The scratch tests are the most common of the allergy tests that are done. This test consists of placing a small amount of the suspected allergen onto the surface of the patient's skin, and then making a scratch or prick to allow the substance to penetrate the skin. The site is then observed closely for indication of an allergic reaction.

The other benefit of this particular type of test is that various other allergens can also be tested at the same time. This, therefore, makes this method most useful when the allergen is not know, when the allergens are airborne, and when the allergies are from foods and insect bites.

Elimination Diets

If a food allergy is suspected, the elimination diet may be performed. A variety of foods that are potential allergens are eliminated form the diet for several weeks. Each food is then gradually added back to the person's diet, with attention being mad to see which of the selections of food is causing the allergy symptoms to return.

This method of allergy testing works best with mild allergic reactions. However, it can pose a potential danger to patients who have severe, anaphylactic allergies. If there is a severe allergy suspected, a third method of allergy testing is preferred to ensure the safety of the patient. Thus, a life-threatening substance is not placed into the system of the allergy sufferer.

Blood Tests

A RAST, or radioallergosorbent test, is the final type of allergy testing that is commonly performed. This is achieved by using blood drawn from the patient. It is then examined for the presence of immunoglobulin (Ige) antibodies. This indicates whether the immune system is producing an allergic reaction to the body. These Ige's tell your doctor if you are allergic to certain allergens, although this testing does not tend to be as accurate and precise as other methods used.

About the Author:

Thanks for dropping by and learning about allergy info. Trustworthy knowledge and reliable information on this subject is often hard to come by, so hopefully you got exactly what you were looking for in this article. Of course if you would like to learn more about Allergy Resource then browse our website, bestallergyinfo.com.

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