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How Do Doctors Test for Allergies?
The doctor suspects that my son has allergies, and recommended that we get him tested. What kind of tests should we expect?
– Polly
There are two main types of allergy tests: skin tests and blood tests. In a skin test, a purified liquid form of an allergen is placed underneath the skin with either a scratch test, patch test, or intradermal test. If the area swells up and becomes red (like a mosquito bite), the test is said to be positive.
A blood test (called a RAST test) may be used if your child is extremely sensitive to certain allergens or has a skin condition that does not allow a skin test to be performed. Talk to your doctor or allergist about the specific test that will be done.
For more information, check out these articles:
Allergy Shots
Barbara P. Homeier, MD
Date reviewed: September 2006
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