Allergy tests

Skin tests of a kind, or, in other words, allergy tests, are mandatory if the patient has any type of allergic disease. The tests allow to accurately determine the source of the allergic reaction through the person's hypersensitivity to various allergens.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ]

When are allergy tests prescribed?

Allergy tests are often prescribed for the following conditions:

• hay fever - a seasonal allergy to flower pollen. Hay fever is accompanied by a runny nose, nasal congestion, constant sneezing, and itching in the nose;
• bronchial asthma, which causes suffocation, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath;
• allergic dermatitis, manifested by skin rashes;
• food allergies accompanied by skin rashes and itching;
• drug allergy causing Quincke's edema, itching, skin rashes;
• allergic rhinitis, which causes a runny nose, and allergic conjunctivitis, which is accompanied by watery eyes, itching, and redness of the eyes.

Allergy tests: how to prepare?

Before undergoing allergy tests, the patient must prepare. At least 30 days must have passed since the last allergic reaction to any component. You should be prepared for the fact that during allergy tests, the body may have an unexpected reaction to the allergen, and emergency medical care may be required. For this reason, any allergy tests should be performed exclusively in special medical institutions under the watchful eye of a doctor.

The day before the allergy test, you must stop taking antiallergic drugs. You should be positive about the procedure, calm down, since even those methods that use subcutaneous injections are absolutely painless and bloodless.

There are many contraindications to allergy testing: pregnancy, age over 60, taking antiallergic drugs during this period, long-term therapy with hormonal agents, any acute chronic disease, cold, exacerbation of allergies during this period.

[ 5 ], [ 6 ]

How are allergy tests done?

Allergy tests are carried out using several methods:

1. skin tests in the form of applications. A cotton swab is moistened in an allergen solution and applied to undamaged areas of the skin;
2. scarification tests - various allergens are applied in the form of drops to the cleansed skin of the forearm, and then small scratches are made through them with a disposable scarifier;
3. Prick tests are similar to scarification tests, the only difference being that instead of scratching through drops of allergens, shallow, up to 1 mm, light pricks are made with disposable needles.

Only about 15 allergens can be tested at a time. Soluble allergens include pollen, food products, herbs, insect poisons, household dust, animal epidermis, medications, chemical and bacterial preparations, fungi, etc.

Allergy tests are often performed by irritating the skin with the same allergen, taken in different concentrations. If a person has an allergic reaction to any allergen, the scratch or injection site will begin to turn red, swell, and a skin rash will appear. Skin allergy tests are the most common diagnostic methods in allergological practice.

Skin tests are evaluated depending on which allergen was used. The first results can be obtained after 20 minutes, the later ones are evaluated after 1-2 days. The patient is given a list with the results of the tests. Opposite each allergen there may be an entry:

• positive;
• negative;
• doubtful;
• weakly positive.

Allergy tests include not only skin tests, but also a blood test, which helps the doctor identify the type of allergy. Blood tests are recommended for any patient, with any form of allergy.