Yes – we can test you to almost any possible allergen. But to make these test make sense, you will need to help us out. Here are some recommendations on how to make the best out of your visit with an allergist:

• Try to see a connection between the symptoms and what trigger them did your eyes start itching after you pet the cat? Did you have a rash after a dog licked you? Do you get congested only after sleeping on the guest bed?
• You may also want to keep track of the occurrences of allergic reactions. Yes – rash happens every time the dog licks me. Yes – I sneeze every time I get exposed to the grass pollen. No – I am congested most of the time, it just gets worse after sleeping on the guest bed.
• You want to find out which measures make your problem go away. For example, a good way to tell if this is an allergy is to take OTC antihistamines. Zyrtec, Allegra, Aysal, and Benadryl are the examples of medications that block histamine (a substance produced in the body when allergic reaction happens)
• If you suspect that some foods cause the problem, it is better to avoid that food to see if all symptoms clear up. Sometimes, if the symptom is not too severe, it can be hard to detect which food you have a reaction to. Or, in case of wheat allergy, it is just hard to avoid it completely.

You should know that the body immune system can react even to the tiny amount of a protein – even a trace of the wheat flour left on the cutting board can trigger an allergic reaction. If elimination is not one hundred percent, the symptoms may persist and give you a false feeling that it is not that food.

What type of tests Allergy Clinic offers?

Allergy testing is simple and straightforward. An Allergist will discuss the history of your problem and recommend which specific tests you need. While you can have all tests done, most cannot be scheduled on the same day.

Here are the tests our clinic offers.

Skin test for indoor allergens:

• Cat
• Dog
• Dust mite
• Cockroach
• Molds
• Rats
• Mice
• Guinea pig
• Rabbit

There are also other personalized tests, as some allergens will need to be ordered directly from the company to fit your specific history.

Skin test for the outdoor allergy (hay fever):

• Trees
• Grasses
• Outdoor molds
• Outdoor animals (horses)
• Weeds

The outdoor allergy is very common and is suspected when you have certain symptoms at the same time of the year. You can be allergy-free during the months when a certain type of grass or a tree does not bloom.

Blood test for environmental panels can be custom ordered and done in a local laboratory. As there are hundreds of allergens that can be checked separately or as panels, you should consult with our Allergists to find out what needs to be ordered. Otherwise, the test can be very expensive.

This is ‘golden standard’ allergy testing. We prefer skin test to any other available laboratory tests, but sometimes it is necessary to do blood test as well. Your doctor will discuss your options during appointment. We usually test children older then 6 month in the presence of at least one parent. There is no age limit for adults. We limit test panels to 30 for kids and to 74 for adults, during the spring we may not perform any testing due to high pollen (or limit to 1/2 of usual size).

Standard skin prick test is done by simple scratching of the surface of your skin by small plastic device. If the test is positive you will develop minor local itching, area of redness and skin bump – we measure skin changes to know how significant your allergy is. We use almost painless plastic prick devices, for kids we use multi-pricks (up to 8 tests at one time!) All test takes about 45 minutes. We stop uncomfortable itching with Benadryl spray and antihistamine tablets. You do not need to lay down – instead you can sit comfortably and read favorite book.

For kids we have DVDs, toys and books that distract from the test, and then – nice toys from a treasure chest and juice-only organic lollipops – only nice things to remember and NO tears!

You should continue taking asthma medications, nasal sprays and any other medication prescribed for other health conditions. Please tell us if you are taking oral or shot steroids of any kind

Will allergy tests hurt?

Our physicians have an absolute dedication to pain-free and no-suffering experience! This is achieved by a few modifications of practices and an extensive training of all staff members. Even smallest kids come out of our office smiling happily sucking on a yummy organic lollypop!

For our adult patients, we offer worry-free testing. Right after the test is applied on the back, you can move around, wear normal clothes and work. We provide fast and secure connection, so no time is wasted! For people with disabilities or back pain, we offer comfortable massage couches and soft pillows.

An allergy skin test is performed to find out what gives you the symptoms.  It involves making tiny scratches on the skin and can cause itching and swelling around the prick. But don’t worry – if your reaction is severe, we will give you a pre-medication and stop the test early by applying antihistamine and anti-inflammatory spray or cream. Our doctor will also schedule more than one testing appointment so we can test for fewer allergens at a time.