Patch tests - allergy; Scratch tests - allergy; Skin tests - allergy; RAST test

Risks related to skin and food allergy tests may include:

• Allergic reaction
• Life-threatening anaphylactic reaction

The accuracy of allergy testing varies quite a bit. A person may react to a substance during testing, but never react during normal exposure. Rarely, a person may also have a negative allergy test and still be allergic to the substance.

Images

Skin testing, PPD (R arm) and Candida (L)

Allergy skin prick or scratch test

Intradermal allergy test reactions

RAST test

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Allergy testing Results

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Allergy testing Prevention

Review Date: 06/25/2011
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Stuart I. Henochowicz, MD, FACP, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Georgetown University Medical School.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)