An allergy test is typically performed through the examination of skin or blood to diagnose if you are allergic to something particular or not. Allergy tests are not adequate in most cases, if your physical and medical history indicates that you are allergic to something, allergy tests may be helpful in determining what you are allergic to.

Before you undergo skin or blood tests, it is necessary to have a discussion with your doctor about your lifestyle, family history, and symptoms that you may have observed. Typically, you will be directed to stop taking medications for a while.

Allergy tests identify your body’s reaction to certain allergens or allergy triggers. Your immune system overreacts in the form of skin irritation, nasal congestion, watery eyes, headache, and sore throat. Allergy tests confirm whether you are allergic to something or not, if yes, you would know what exactly you are allergic to.

There are different types of allergy tests, your doctor will opt for the best method based on your symptoms and the suspected allergens. Some of these tests are:

Intradermal Skin Test
Intradermal skin test checks for allergies to airborne irritants, medications, and insect stings. For this purpose, your medical help injects small amounts of the allergen into the outer layer of your skin.

Patch Test
Patch test determines the cause of contact dermatitis. In this test, your doctor places drops of an allergen onto the skin on your arm and covers the area with a bandage for 48 to 96 hours to check your skin for a rash or other reaction.

Blood Test
It is a typical blood test in which your doctor sends a sample of your blood to a lab for an IgE test. The lab tests the amount of IgE antibodies in the blood sample by adding allergens to it.

An allergy test has a slight probability of causing a serious allergic reaction that needs medical attention. The Medical Office of Katy is always prepared to handle such allergic response if it occurs at our office however if the reaction happens after you have left our office, you should immediately call emergency.

For more information, visit us today or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Katy TX, Park Row TX, Cinco Ranch TX, Brookshire TX, Pittsville TX and Mission Bend TX.