What Are The Different Allergy Tests

An allergy test lets the doctor determine whether the patient is sensitive to some substances (allergens) and what are these substances. This means these tests are used to diagnose the type of allergy. There are three types of tests that a doctor or an allergist, who is expert in dealing with allergies, implements to confirm allergy. Listed below are these three tests.

• RAST test
• Prick test
• Patch test

RAST (Radioallergosorbent) Test

This test is actually a type of blood test that aims at probing into the sensitivity of your body to different allergens. These allergens are listed below.

• Different food groups (cows’ milk, tomatoes, and nuts) for food allergy
• House dust mite for dust mite allergy
• Animal dander (hair or fur) for pet allergy

Apart from examining these allergies, the RAST test is often useful in examining patients who are inclined towards atopic eczema. The test is very effective for children who are under five years of age and specially those who have a past of intolerance to specific food items.

The best treatment is to avoid suspected allergic food items and exposure to other allergens for your body.

Sometimes, it is difficult to conclude from the RAST test. This is because it is quite possible that a patient is sensitive to all the state allergens up to a certain extent or at a great extent; but it is not certain that all of them might be negatively impacting on its eczema.

Prick Test

The prick test is a special kind of test that determines whether the patient is suffering from the immediate (Type 1) sensitivity to various things towards which the skin is exposed. In such sensitivity, if a person becomes allergic, there are signs of sudden start of itchy rashes on the skin, wheeziness, and in some cases; there is noteworthy swelling surrounding the mouth.

In this test, a number of substances in various amounts are applied on the arm. Then, these substances are made to penetrate the skin through fine needles. Next, the arm is left as it is and around 10 minutes, each region of the arm is examined to look for any red patch.

The prick test is also useful in determining the existence of latex allergy. Latex is a substance used in balloons and thin rubber gloves mainly utilized in hospitals and clinics of the dentists.

Patch Test

This test is useful in examining the eczema happening on a particular site such as hands or face. It is also helpful in determining allergic contact dermatitis and eczema that is not responding to the standard treatment or is deteriorating.

In this test, the job of the person is a critical factor that helps in identifying the substances or allergens against which the assessment will be done. Patients who need to take this test are asked to come alternatively in a week, which comes to three visits in three days.

First Visit

In the first time meeting, the consultant determines the type of test/s to be conducted. Before coming for the visit, the patients are informed to carry products that they use on a regular basis and might have a suspected thought of the cause of allergy. This is because even these products will be tested to determine the allergen.

During the test, these substances are fixed on the back, which is required to be kept away from the contact with the water or any other liquid for two days.

Second Visit

In this next visit, the consultant eradicates the patches of the substances and glances for the first time for any reactions.

Third Visit

In this visit, the patch tests are formally glanced, as it takes time for a reaction to exhibit itself. If there is a red colored itchy patch found on the skin, it points out that the person is allergic towards a specific substance.

If these patches are detected, the consultant details the patient about the products that are likely to have the allergic substances and advise him/her of not using such products. However, prevention of an identified allergen is not a guarantee for freedom from the eczema, especially, if the contact site is hands.

Even if the test result is negative, it is useful in determining irritant contact eczema.

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