Allergy tests can help determine things you might be allergic to eating, touching, or even inhaling. Allergy tests can be done by blood tests, skin tests, or challenge tests. Blood tests can be more reliable when looking for a specific allergy, but skin and challenge tests are helpful in determining different allergy triggers. Read more about the common allergens the different types of allergy tests can look for:
Blood Test
Blood tests are typically very helpful in diagnosing food allergies. When performed, doctors also tend to test for the 10 most common allergy triggers. Blood tests are also helpful for individuals who have severe allergic reactions. A blood test does not require exposure to the allergen, where a skin test will expose the patient to each allergen.
Here are the common foods a blood allergy test can look for:
- Cow's Milk
- Egg Whites
- Peanuts
- Soybeans
- Wheat
- Codfish
- Sesame seeds
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Walnuts
- Hazelnuts (Filberts)
- Tuna
- Salmon
- Shrimp
- Scallops
Skin Test
A skin allergy test can be completed in a few ways. These can be done by a skin prick test, an injection, a skin scrape, a patch test, or simply by applying an allergen externally. The most common types of allergens tested during a skin test are:
- Pollen
- Mold
- Trees
- Grass
- Plants
- Pet Dander
- Dust Mites & Bugs
- Specific Foods
Challenge Test
Depending on your exact allergy, a challenge test can help determine what amount of allergen triggers a reaction to your skin or body. Your doctor will closely watch how strongly your body reacts to different levels of exposure to the allergen. These tests can be performed for any allergen after one is identified as a potential reaction from the patient.
If you're suffering from allergies, we also encourage you to make an appointment at Florida Ear Nose Throat. We offer allergy screening, allergy management, and immunotherapy. To schedule an appointment, give us a call at (877) EAR-NOSE.
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