Allergy testing measures how a person reacts to specific allergens, such as tree pollen, pet dander, foods, medications or molds. A "positive" allergy test means that a person has a specific allergic antibody to the substance tested. This often means that the person is allergic to the substance, meaning that the person will experience symptoms when exposed to the allergen.
However, a positive allergy test does not necessarily mean that the person is indeed allergic to the substance. A person may have a positive allergy test to dog dander, for example, but experience no symptoms with exposure to dogs. In addition, a person may have multiple positive food allergy tests, but be able to eat these foods without any bad reactions.
Therefore, an allergist is needed to perform and interpret allergy tests based on the person’s symptoms.
There are only two types of allergy testing considered to be valid: Skin testing (prick/puncture and intradermal) and RAST (radioallergosorbent test). Other tests for allergies may be performed in research settings (such as placing small amounts of allergen in the eye, nose or lungs to measure an allergic response), but are not helpful for everyday use. Patch testing is not used to test for allergy, but for contact dermatitis to various chemicals, which is due to another part of the immune system.
Numerous other tests are performed by non-allergy practitioners or people who call themselves “allergists” but lack formal training and national board-certification in the field of allergy and immunology. Learn more about which tests to avoid in the diagnosis of allergies. Always see a formally-trained, board-certified or board-eligible allergist when having allergy treatments.
However, a positive allergy test does not necessarily mean that the person is indeed allergic to the substance. A person may have a positive allergy test to dog dander, for example, but experience no symptoms with exposure to dogs. In addition, a person may have multiple positive food allergy tests, but be able to eat these foods without any bad reactions.
Therefore, an allergist is needed to perform and interpret allergy tests based on the person’s symptoms.
There are only two types of allergy testing considered to be valid: Skin testing (prick/puncture and intradermal) and RAST (radioallergosorbent test). Other tests for allergies may be performed in research settings (such as placing small amounts of allergen in the eye, nose or lungs to measure an allergic response), but are not helpful for everyday use. Patch testing is not used to test for allergy, but for contact dermatitis to various chemicals, which is due to another part of the immune system.
Numerous other tests are performed by non-allergy practitioners or people who call themselves “allergists” but lack formal training and national board-certification in the field of allergy and immunology. Learn more about which tests to avoid in the diagnosis of allergies. Always see a formally-trained, board-certified or board-eligible allergist when having allergy treatments.
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