Immediate Skin Testing
Type of allergens tested
- Airborne allergens (pollen, mold, animals, dust mites)
- Food allergens (milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, seafood, etc.)
- Stinging insect venom (bee, wasp, hornets)
- Penicillin (antibiotic) and select other antibiotics
- Topical anesthetics, such as lidocaine
how it works
- These tests are individually applied on the skin with plastic applicators
- Results are available after 10-15 minutes.
- For infants and small children the tests are applied on the back. For older patients, the arms are generally used.
- In some cases, additional testing is done just under the skin with a very small injection. Typically this is not needed for children.
- Testing is often available on the first visit if the patient has not recently taken antihistamines, such as Claritin, Allegra, Zyrtec or Benadryl.
how does this help?
- Knowing allergen sensitivities gives us the opportunity to discuss ways to identify and avoid allergens and develop a treatment plan, including the option of allergen desensitization (allergy injections).