What is Allergy Test
By: BonebrakeTotal Views: 198, Word Count: 571,
Allergy test is required if you exhibit the symptoms of acute or chronic allergy. Hundreds of questions clouds our mind regarding what is allergy test, how is it done, what does it determine, and so on. In this article we will try to provide basic information about allergy test, its procedure, and its result.
Allergy test is done to confirm whether a person is allergic to a particular substance or not. Allergy test is generally done only if the doctor feels that the situation is acute and needs proper treatment. Your doctor might ask the following questions before prescribing the allergy test:
- What is the frequency of allergic reaction?
- How intense is it and for how long does it stay?
- Is there a family history of allergic reaction of the same nature?
- What are the symptoms of your allergy?
Depending on your responses the doctor will decide whether your situation requires an allergy test or not. However, if your doctor finally prescribes an allergy test there is no reason to worry. It will only help your ailment get better.
What is Allergy Test?
Allergy test is a blood test or a skin test to determine what substance or allergen is causing the allergy. In skin allergy test a small amount of allergen or the suspected substance causing allergy is put under the skin of the patient and observed whether the person has an allergic reaction. Skin allergy tests are conducted in three ways:
Skin Prick Test: In skin prick test a small drop of allergen is put on the skin and the skin is scratched or pricked with the help of needle to let the allergen permeate inside. If the skin turns red or patchy then the person is allergic to that substance.
Intradermal Test: If the person does not show any positive result in skin prick test and the doctor still believes that the patient is allergic to that substance then he is advised an intradermal test. In this procedure small amount of allergen substance is injected inside the skin. This test is more sensitive than skin prick test and also shows false-positive result at times.
Skin Patch Test: Skin test is done to detect a skin allergy. A small amount of allergen is taped to the skin for as long as 24-27 hours.
Blood test is also conducted to detect an allergy in a person. Blood test is generally recommended for people who are not fit to take skin test like – very old people, or very young kids, or those suffering from some disease. In Allergy blood tests a small amount of blood sample is tested in the lab to know the amount of antibody or immunoglobulin is produced in the body of the person in reaction to an allergen. If the amount of antibody is large then the allergy is confirmed. The medical term for this test is ELISA or EIA.
After going through the article you now have a fair idea as to what is allergy test. It is important to know the allergy in detail so that proper treatment can be given on time.
About the Author
Allergist Paul Fryatt, M.D. has been in this profession from last 24 years. He made great achievements in his profession. He made an initiative to open a Family Allergy Clinic in 1985 to help his patients who were not reacting to traditional allergy treatment programs. Moreover he has explored the treatment to overcome allergy symptoms to reclaim quality of life through his convenient, no-shots therapy.
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