Allergy testing is a common practice to identify substances that trigger allergic reactions. It's usually conducted by a trained allergist. The two most common allergy tests are:
Skin Tests
- Skin prick test: A small amount of the suspected allergen is pricked or scratched into the skin, and the area is observed for a reaction. This test can quickly and accurately assess reactions to numerous allergens at once.
- Intradermal test: A tiny amount of the allergen is injected under the skin. This test is typically used for diagnosing allergies to venom or certain medications, as it may trigger a stronger reaction than a skin prick test.
Blood Tests
- Allergy blood tests measure the levels of IgE antibodies in your blood. High levels of IgE can indicate an allergy. This test is particularly helpful for diagnosing allergies to substances that are difficult or dangerous to test with skin prick tests.
Other allergy tests include:
- Oral food challenge: This test involves consuming small amounts of a suspected food under the supervision of a doctor. This method is used to confirm a food allergy and to assess the severity of the reaction.
- Patch tests: Patch tests are applied to the skin to check for reactions to substances that cause delayed allergic reactions, such as chemicals in cosmetics or certain metals.
The most common allergy test is the skin prick test because it's fast, accurate, and can check for reactions to many allergens. The blood test is useful for diagnosing allergies to substances that cannot be tested with skin prick tests.
