Sneezing, itching or breaking out in hives without knowing the cause can leave you unsure about what substances to avoid so you can feel better. When you think you’re dealing with allergies, professional allergy testing can tell you what’s triggering your symptoms. With our Atlanta allergist’s support you can determine which foods or pollens to avoid, and how to otherwise limit contact with allergens.
What Can Patients Learn From Allergy Testing?
Before a test, allergists discuss factors such as the symptoms you experienced, when they started, and any substances that you suspect to be a trigger. They can then choose the best testing approach, including the following options.
- Skin Prick Testing – Can test for dozens of allergens and provide results within about 15 minutes.
- Blood Testing – When a patient is not a good candidate for skin testing, blood samples are sent to a lab for analysis.
- Patch Testing – Allergens are taped to a patient’s back for 2 days to monitor reactions to metals, fragrances and other allergens.
Results from these tests must then be interpreted by an allergist. Here are some of the insights that can be gleaned from allergy testing.
Which Allergens Could Be Triggering Your Symptoms
Allergy testing looks for immune responses to substances like pollen, mold, dust mites, pet dander and insect venom. It is also used to identify one or more types of foods that trigger reactions, including peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs and shellfish. A positive result by itself does not confirm an allergy, but it gives an allergist important information that supports the diagnostic process.
Whether a Positive Test Result Relates to Your Symptoms
A key benefit of allergy testing is the ability to see how the body responds to many different allergens. However, positive results only show sensitization to an allergen. It’s even possible for someone to test positive for an allergy without experiencing noticeable symptoms. Allergists compare test results with a patient’s symptoms and reaction history to determine which allergens actually matter.
What May Be Causing Seasonal or Recurring Symptoms
Allergies that keep coming back at the same time of year (or in certain locations) usually follow a pattern. Allergy testing can help explain what is happening in these circumstances. For instance, a person with a tree pollen allergy could find early springtime in Atlanta to be a time of sneezing, coughing and nasal congestion. And if pet dander is the problem, allergies might only flare up at home.
Whether Certain Allergies Are Less Likely
Allergy testing is also about ruling out a possible allergy. For example, when a person reacts after eating, they’ll often remove many types of food from their diet simply as a reflex. This could certainly lead someone to avoid anything containing eggs or tree nuts, substantially reducing their nutrition options. Just as with a positive test result, when a suspected allergy is ruled out through negative results, this accurate information helps the allergist make the best decisions possible for the patient. When results are inconclusive, allergists can use alternative testing methods including an oral food challenge or an elimination diet.
What Allergy Testing Cannot Tell You
Professional allergy testing is a vital part of diagnosing and treating an allergy. But results only make sense when allergists can interpret them with supporting evidence. Such evidence can include a patient’s medical history and a symptom timeline, along with images of a patient’s hives or swelling. Additionally, testing cannot predict the severity of a future reaction. Allergists consider all available evidence before making a diagnosis and developing a treatment plan.
Professional Allergy Testing in the Atlanta Area
Visit Chacko Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center for seasonal, environmental and food allergy testing. We support adults and children with accurate testing and treatment at locations across Atlanta. Call (678) 668-4688 or request an appointment.
