Allergy Skin & Patch Testing
What kinds of things can I be allergy tested for?
Allergy skin testing is done in the office to determine if you have allergies. We can skin test many different foods, pollens (trees, grass, weeds, ragweed), mold, dust mite, animals, certain drugs, and stinging insects.
Skin testing involves placing a small drop of liquid on the skin and lightly scratching it with a plastic device. We have a device that can place 8 tests at a time if needed. It takes just a few seconds to place the test. We then wait 20 minutes to read the tests.
Some patients require a second level of testing involving injecting a very small amount of allergen in the top layer of the skin (similar to a TB test). This type of testing takes an additional 20 minutes.
Patch Testing
We also offer patch testing which helps test for 36 different chemicals that can cause contact dermatitis.
Evaluation begins with a detailed medical history and skin examination to determine whether patch testing is appropriate. During the initial visit, 36 of the most common contact allergens are applied to your back using adhesive patches. The patches remain in place for 48 hours, during which time the back must be kept dry and strenuous activities should be avoided. We ask that you do not shower during the 48 hours as well. At the second visit, the patches are removed and an initial reading is performed. A final reading is completed 5–7 days after the patches are first applied, allowing us to identify delayed allergic reactions that may not be visible earlier.
Warren Allergy is proud to offer a proven approach to food allergy desensitization.