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Shelly was 8 years old when she first encountered her allergic exposure to eggs and had Anaphylaxis. It is a severe life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur within second or minutes of exposure to an allergen. Her parents had zero clues about what went wrong until they met the healthcare expert who had confirmed the allergic reaction. The next statement almost stunned them when the doctor said “Shelley may outgrow other allergies but she would never outgrow her allergy to eggs and eating one could kill her as well”.
An allergic reaction happens when your immune system overreacts to a threat or a harmful foreign item. People often ignore the symptoms of an allergy unless they become severe. There can be many causes of an allergic reaction and to identify what triggers an allergy, the best way is to get allergy testing done. Many different types of allergies affect the human body and each requires a different type of allergy test. Keep reading this blog to know more about allergy testing and how it can help early detection of an allergy.
What is an Allergy Test?
An allergy test is a test performed by an allergist to identify allergens that are causing an immune reaction leading to allergy symptoms. Identifying allergens helps find a suitable treatment for the allergy and manage symptoms. The test is conducted to see the reaction of the immune system to different allergens in a controlled environment where an individual is exposed to small amounts of specific allergens and the reaction is recorded. Three different types of allergens can trigger an allergic reaction:
Inhaled Allergens trigger an allergy when they come in contact with your nose, throat or lungs. Pollen, dust, and mould are some common examples.
Contact Allergens trigger an allergy when they come in contact with your skin. Bee sting, latex or synthetic fibres are some examples.
Ingested Allergens are allergens present in food such as peanuts, dairy, eggs, seafood etc.
Types of Allergy Tests
There are various types of allergy tests based on symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, skin rashes, and difficulty breathing. Mentioned below are a few tests your doctor may recommend based on your symptoms and the suspected allergen.
1. Skin Sensitivity Test
There are three types of skin sensitivity tests as given below.
- Skin prick test (Scratch test) - It is conducted to check the skin sensitivity to allergens. It is the most common type of allergy test where the skin on the forearm or upper back is exposed to different types of potential allergens by pricking the skin and placing a drop of an allergen. If the skin shows a reaction to a particular allergen it means you are allergic to that particular allergen. It is used to test for food allergies, airborne allergies and antibiotic allergies.
- Intradermal Test - If the prick test results do not indicate anything, an intradermal skin test is performed where allergens are injected under the skin. Skin allergy test cost depends on the type of test being conducted.
- Patch Test - This test is used to find the cause of contact dermatitis. A bandage patch containing a drop of the allergen is applied to the skin and left for a minimum of 48 hours. After 48 hours, when the patch is removed skin is observed for 15 to 60 minutes to see if there is a reaction.
2. Blood Tests
There are mainly two types of blood test for allergies in adults as well as children. Allergy blood tests can be used for various purposes including food allergy testing, food intolerance test, etc.
- Total IgE Test - This test is done to measure the total amount of immunoglobulin E antibodies in the blood. This test is used for the diagnosis of health conditions and does not indicate a specific allergy.
- Specific IgE Test - It measures immunoglobulin E antibodies produced in response to a specific allergen in the blood. The two most common types of specific IgE tests are the RAST allergy test and the ELISA test. RAST allergy test is an effective blood test for skin allergy when the results of a prick test or a patch test are confusing.
3. Challenge Test
This test is used to determine a food or drug allergy and it involves consuming small amounts of the allergen to see how it is tolerated. The dose is gradually increased if there are no symptoms and the reaction, if any, is observed. This test is always done under the guidance of a physician.
>> Also Read: Avoid These 6 Skin Allergies This Summer: Helpful Tips and Tricks
What is an Allergy Panel Test?
An allergy panel test is a comprehensive test that is designed to address different categories of allergens. There are a variety of allergy panel tests available in the market and allergy test costvary from one lab to another. Some common allergy panel tests are:
- Food allergy panel test - This test includes a comprehensive range of allergens in one test such as dairy, fish, eggs, nuts, wheat, seafood, etc.
- Asthma/Respiratory allergy panel test - This test includes allergens that trigger respiratory issues or asthma. It may include a dust allergy test, pet allergy, mould allergy etc.
- Drug allergy panel test - This test identifies medication that causes allergies such as antibiotics, painkillers, antidepressants, etc.
- Skin allergy panel test - This test includes a wide range of allergens that may trigger a skin allergy such as metals, latex, fragrances, cosmetics, mould, etc.
In Conclusion
Detecting the root cause of an allergy through allergy testing has many benefits. When you identify the allergens, you can prevent allergic reactions in future, you can treat the allergy with the help of diet changes and medication and overall it improves the quality of your life. If you have any symptoms that are similar to an allergic reaction, get yourself tested for allergy.
As you can understand how an allergic reaction can lead to life-threatening condition from the story of Shelly, let’s take the first step towards a healthier future by investing in a comprehensive health insurance policy from Care Health Insurance and get your diagnostic tests done at our network labs.
Disclaimers: All plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.
