Skin Testing Procedure

People who have allergies make specific IgE-antibodies or proteins to allergenic substances, which cause allergy symptoms. The allergens could be pollen, animal dander, mold, food or medications. Allergy skin testing provide us way to see if you make IgE-antibody proteins to specific allergens. There are two steps: prick and intradermal. Each step takes about 30 minutes to complete. These steps are not painful but uncomfortable. The prick method is performed on your skin on the back or forearm. We prick with a plastic device whose tip is filled with the test allergen. This causes a small interruption in the skin and introduces the allergen into the skin. The allergenic specific IgE-antibody protein causes some redness, itching, and swelling at the test site in 15-20 minutes. The larger the size of the reaction the larger the amount of IgE-antibody is present. The wheal and flare response is absent without antibody.

Unlike allergy blood tests, allergy skin tests are more reliable, simple, safe and cost-effective way of finding out either the presence or absence of allergen specific IgE-antibodies. Blood tests can be done if you have significant skin disease and/or are a woman and pregnant, and/or have taken antihistamine medications within the last 3-10 days, and/or have had a previous severe acute allergic reaction to the test allergen.

Please inform your physician if any of the above is applicable. The physician will discuss with you other options of evaluating your allergies. It is important that you do not stop any medication for the purpose of skin testing without the knowledge of the prescribing physician. Click to learn more about medications that could interfere with allergy tests.

At times, skin tests may result in an acute allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis within one to two hours after the test. Click to learn more about anaphylaxis. The reactions may be delayed and protracted. Very rarely, reactions could end fatally. It is very important that you discuss with your physician the risk versus benefit of undergoing allergy skin test and sign an informed consent. If you have any questions or concerns in this regard, please clarify with your physician before the test. You should feel confident in the knowing that we have people and equipment available at our facility to take care of such possible, yet unlikely, reactions.

The intradermal method involves injecting a small amount of the allergens into the skin of the forearm only to the allergens, which tested negative by the prick method. Interpretation, risks and contraindications are similar to prick tests we tend to avoid intradermal tests in small children (< 8 years) and in needle-shy individuals. However, at times, without intradermal tests, allergies cannot be ruled out conclusively.

Most of the insurances cover the entire cost of these procedures. Some insurance may require prior authorization. Check with your insurance company for coverage details. Call our office if you would like to schedule an appointment ((650) 556-9577).