Recently a reader posted this question here at HealthCentral.com, saying that her child had results like this: Trees 2++; Grass 4++++. She wanted to know what the numbers mean. First, let me say that interpreting allergy test results is a tricky business. These tests are notorious for their fals...
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More questions than answers
massue
Tuesday, November 06, 2007 at 07:54 PM
So if the scratch tests can result in false negatives, why bother at all? Do they consider the in-depth history you give them? I had the scratch tests, (97 and 56) then the intradermal (7) and next month we discuss the allergy shots. If I have a false positive, won't allergy shots for that particular allergen mess me up? I am on fourth day of Singulair and Zyrtec. I was taking Zyrtec for about three weeks before my appt and then stopped for the testing. Last night I slept like I have not slept in years. Used to getting 6 hours, if lucky, and got 10 last night. Never happens! Felt rested and refreshed but not terribly energized. Like my body is going "whew, finally!" My head is more clear and breathing is notably improved. If this continues, is allergy shot therapy necessary? Consider we have had killing frosts and so many of the pollens are non-existent. What I am dealing with now would be the molds, house dust, dust mites. I don't have dog or cat.
Watching for any ill effects of the Singulair. Read up on that so if I start feeling hivey or tongue swells up, etc., I can respond accordingly.
I ran across the immuno cap but had not heard of the unicap or Pharmacia cap. Is this something I need to discuss with the allergist? He is from another country and is a bit hard to understand at times so our communication is somewhat hampered.
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How do I read my skin test record?
Allergic to everything
Monday, August 31, 2009 at 06:18 PM
I was reading this and I still dont exactly understand how to read the numbers. I had the scratch test done and they gave me a copy of my results. I know they measure how far the rash spread and I believe they also some how measure how much the area swelled up. When looking at my copy of the record I just don't understand what these numbers mean next to the different things I was tested to have an allergy for. I know which ones I have allergies to though because they circled them and they have the biggest numbers.
Here are some examples:
Dust mites:
*D. Pteronyssinus
Prick: 13+P-70
Tree Pollens:
*Maple, Sugar
Prick: 3-40
*Oak, Red
Prick: 4-50
Grass Pollens:
*Kentucky Bluegrass
Prick: 5+P-55
Weed Pollens:
*Ragweed, Giant
Prick: 4-65
What do these numbers mean???
So if the scratch tests can result in false negatives, why bother at all? Do they consider the in-depth history you give them? I had the scratch tests, (97 and 56) then the intradermal (7) and next month we discuss the allergy shots. If I have a false positive, won't allergy shots for that particular allergen mess me up? I am on fourth day of Singulair and Zyrtec. I was taking Zyrtec for about three weeks before my appt and then stopped for the testing. Last night I slept like I have not slept in years. Used to getting 6 hours, if lucky, and got 10 last night. Never happens! Felt rested and refreshed but not terribly energized. Like my body is going "whew, finally!" My head is more clear and breathing is notably improved. If this continues, is allergy shot therapy necessary? Consider we have had killing frosts and so many of the pollens are non-existent. What I am dealing with now would be the molds, house dust, dust mites. I don't have dog or cat.
Watching for any ill effects of the Singulair. Read up on that so if I start feeling hivey or tongue swells up, etc., I can respond accordingly.
I ran across the immuno cap but had not heard of the unicap or Pharmacia cap. Is this something I need to discuss with the allergist? He is from another country and is a bit hard to understand at times so our communication is somewhat hampered.