Allergy Testing

Pretest Instructions

If you are coming for a first visit or a visit that involves allergy testing you will need to be off all antihistamines for 72 hours. Newer non-sedating antihistamines such as Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin, and Clarinex need to be stopped 1 week before testing. Antihistamine eye drops need to be discontinued for 3 days. Certain other drugs such as tricyclic antidepressants, antinausea medications and Beta-blocker hypertension medication may also block your ability to have skin testing. However, please talk to our physician before stopping these types of medications.
Skin testing is usually done on the arms or back, so short sleeve or loose fitting clothes are best.

Allergy Testing Information

Skin testing is the most reliable form of allergy testing. These tests are used to determine whether allergies are present, to identify what they are and to determine severity. The surface of your skin is scratched or injected with minute amounts of specific allergens such as grass and weed pollen, animal dander, and dust. A positive test shows a small bump with surrounding redness and the bump itches. If no bump appears, allergy is ruled out for that specific allergen.

One benefit of allergy testing in the skin is that an immediate reading of specific allergy can be done. A second benefit is that the test is more sensitive and specific as well as less expensive than blood testing. Risks of the test include itching. Rarely patients, (less that 1 in 1000) will have a general allergic reaction with allergy testing and this may require treatment.

For patients unable to have skin testing, our clinic also performs blood tests for allergy. Usually 1 to 2 tsp of blood are drawn and assayed off campus. Results are usually available in 10 days.
Depending on the results of the skin testing your allergist will determine the best way to treat your allergies.

For a more detailed discussion on allergies and allergy testing go to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology web site( www.aaaai.org). Look under patients and consumers/library/general allergy/tips/What is allergy testing.

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