Allergy test is a procedure involves skin or blood test to determine the exact substance or allergen that triggers allergic reaction or response in a person. Usually, skin test is more prefer than blood test since it typically can be performed quicker, cost less and able to provide very good and reliable information on the cause of allergy compares to take a blood allergy test.

Skin Test

There are three most common allergy tests available and the reliability of them varies, but the typical method of performing a skin test is to apply a small portion of allergen that your doctor believes to be the cause of your allergic reaction on your skin or sometimes placed beneath your skin in order to find out if you have an allergic reaction to that particular substance or not.

The most common allergy skin tests method is skin prick. Skin prick test is performed by placing a drop of a solution which contains allergen that might be causing allergic reaction to your skin. Then numerous scratches are made on the skin to allow the solution to penetrate the skin. If you notice a sign of a red area that has raise up and feel itchy, then you are having a positive reaction allergic to that substance that formed the solution being used as the test. It also means that you probably have allergy to that allergen.

Intradermal test is the other popular skin test method. Contrary to the skin prick method which directly applies a small portion of the solution which contains the allergen to your skin, the intradermal test takes that solution and injects it into your skin. This allergy test is typically conducted after the skin price test if it did not create any positive reaction to the allergen that is believes to be the allergen that cause the problem.

The third allergy testing method is called the skin patch allergy test. It involves the procedure of putting a solution which contains the allergen on a pad which is then attached to the skin with a tape and it’s left there for few hours to days. The skin patch allergy test is primarily used as a test to determine if a person has contact dermatitis, which is a kind of skin allergy.

Blood Test

Allergy blood test is typically used to find out the substances in your blood which commonly known as antibodies. Blood test is a good alternative for patients who cannot perform skin tests due to severe allergic reactions and symptoms when in direct contact with the allergens. It is less sensitive than skin test but it causes less irritation and skin redness.

The most commonly used blood allergy test is the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The test is performed to measure the amount of antibody known as immunoglobulin E or IgE which the body might produce when response to certain type of allergies. For patients who are having allergic reactions or asthma, the level of IgE will typically higher.

In certain cases, different allergy testing methods are used together in order to be more accurate in obtaining additional information which is needed to determine the exact cause of the allergy. If you are in doubt whether you have an allergy or not, it is always a good idea to consult a doctor or an allergist who is able to perform the allergy test and give a proper treatment and advise to help you to live in allergy free life.

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