Adult allergy testing

[mackmama]

I have been having what appear to be some allergic reactions lately. Have you ever had allergy testing done by an allergist? If so - what is involved? Do they prick you on your back and, if so, where on your back? Do you feel the testing was accurate, and did it help resolve your issues?

[crl]

I have had it done twice. Once as a teenager and once as an adult. First time was bloodwork. Second was scratch tests. There is a split among doctors about which is better.

My scratch tests were done on my arms. I think back is usually just for little kids. I have only ever been tested for respiratory alleges. Mine came back positive for very nearly everything, which was not a big surprise. And mine were strongly positive for just about all of it. Also no surprise. It was helpful to confirm a dust mite allergy so I could take steps to reduce my exposure. And since I also had a strong pollen and grass reaction I also had to stop line drying my sheets :(.

I think the testing is helpful.

Catherine

[mackmama]

Thanks for your response. Were you able to get multiple scratch tests done on your arms at the same time? I have several things to test for so am hoping I can get it all done at once. Do you favor the blood or scratch tests?

[crl]

Thanks for your response. Were you able to get multiple scratch tests done on your arms at the same time? I have several things to test for so am hoping I can get it all done at once. Do you favor the blood or scratch tests?

I will flat out admit that I don't have an opinion as to which is more accurate. Im just not educated enough on the issue there are some moms with kids with food allergies on here who know more than i do. Hopefully they will chime in.

The blood test is less hassle for me. My reaction to the scratch tests is a bit extreme (my allergist's first question when he saw my arms was, "can you breathe?") and my arms were itchy for two days afterward despite prescription strength cortisone cream. It took benedryl to resolve the itching. But I am told my reaction is extremely unusual and most people have no residual itching at all as soon as the cream is applied.

They were able to run the full set of scratch tests for common respiratory allergies all at once on me. It must have been 30 or more things? Long time ago, so a bit hazy. I think they can pretty much always do all the testing at one time.

Hope that helps,
Catherine

[mackmama]

Wow it does sound like you had a strong reaction to the tests. Thanks for your input - I am a bit nervous about the testing since I've had some strong allergic reactions in the past.

[lhafer]

I'll be watching this since I have started having some allergic reactions to certain things in the past 18 months or so.

Do you have to tell them what you think you are allergic to, or is it a gambit of stuff like all pollens (if you have hayfever type symptoms), or certain foods in a food group (I have weird reactions to bananas and Avacados)?

[BabbyO]

I just had testing done in August to confirm a food allergy I developed as a teenager. They did the scratch test on my back....I think they tested for 30 or 40 things. I only reacted to the control (a histamine they give you to confirm that the testing works), ragweed and cockroaches.

Since I had no reaction to the food, they followed up with a food challenge test in the office, which included actually rubbing the food on my lip, waiting 1/2 an hour for a reaction, then eating increasing quantities with 1/2 hour waits in between. I think the second appt took the better part of 3 hours, but it confirmed that I no longer react to that food...which was very welcomed news to me!

[MSWR0319]

I'm an allergy testing pro! I've probably been tested 4 times in the last 10 years due to moving, outgrowing allergies, and getting new ones. I have always had back scratch testing done. They put about 100 different scratches on my back, it cover about half my back if not more, and then waited to see what happened. One doctor I went to then did some test where he put the allergen under the skin on my forearm to see what happened because I didn't react and he thought I would. I guess it was a secondary test if you didn't react to the first one. I think they were very accurate and helped the allergist come up with a treatment. If you have any other questions, holler!

[MSWR0319]

I'll be watching this since I have started having some allergic reactions to certain things in the past 18 months or so.

Do you have to tell them what you think you are allergic to, or is it a gambit of stuff like all pollens (if you have hayfever type symptoms), or certain foods in a food group (I have weird reactions to bananas and Avacados)?

I'd tell them what you are experiencing and let them go from there. Do you always react to those fruits or just certain times of the year? There's an oral syndrome where you can react to certain fruits during the year when the pollen count is high for some pollens. This is because some fruits have similar proteins to pollens and when the specific pollen is high your body can also react to the fruits, but you aren't necessarily allergic to them. A full allergy test will probably cover food and pollens and other allergens if it's your first time.