Allergy Tests - What's the deal?

[slayer202]

How do the allergy skin tests usually work? If I went in to get checked, would they ask questions and test a few things, or is there like a general list that they could just check regardless? How many things can they test for at once?

 

[Mo0o]

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/skin-test

could have just googled this...

 

[HardcoreRobot]

they can test for many things. they put drops of allergen on sharp plastic things, then grind it into your skin. i have had 6 or 8 done at once on my arm, then i think like 20 or 30+ at once on my back. long time ago. the measure how much the skin swells

 

[Viper GTS]

They are skin pricks. Think a two pronged fork but very small. Dip it in serum, break the skin, wait 20 mins for a reaction.

They have a standard panel that they run and then many others that can be selectively added. I've done as many as 20-30 at a time.

Viper GTS

 

[slayer202]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/skin-test

could have just googled this...

I did. that link doesn't answer my question.

The other responses do though, thanks guys

 

[heymrdj]

Yeah I've had 3 of them in my life, my last one had about 45/50 pricks if I remember right. Just tiny pricks with the serum, then they watch the welts on the back, measure any of them with substance. The size of the welt tells you how allergic you are. Ex. I rate about 2 for dogs, 4 for cats, 5 for mold, 7 for dust mites, and 13 for timothy grass.

 

[BassBomb]

For me it was tons of drops placed on your arm all of different things
I think I had more than 20 per arm.

Then they poke each one slightly with a needle, gauge the response of your body after a set time (how much did it react?)

 

[Syrch]

the above responses are correct. I am highly allergic to a few things, cats/dogs/ragweed etc, and i advise you OP if you are in the same boat tell them and don't have them prick you with that stuff. The "prick that tested for cats over took eight of the other tests and the discomfort was unbearable. Same with the rag weed. They used rubbing alcohol and itching cream on my arms and it still didn't stop for about 2 hours. I literally wanted to cut my arm off.

Just a heads up

 

[JDub02]

Originally posted by: Syrch
the above responses are correct. I am highly allergic to a few things, cats/dogs/ragweed etc, and i advise you OP if you are in the same boat tell them and don't have them prick you with that stuff. The "prick that tested for cats over took eight of the other tests and the discomfort was unbearable. Same with the rag weed. They used rubbing alcohol and itching cream on my arms and it still didn't stop for about 2 hours. I literally wanted to cut my arm off.

Just a heads up

when i had mine done last year, they did a low dose test first to see if i was really allergic to anything. that should have prevented your scenario.

 

[slayer202]

Originally posted by: Syrch
the above responses are correct. I am highly allergic to a few things, cats/dogs/ragweed etc, and i advise you OP if you are in the same boat tell them and don't have them prick you with that stuff. The "prick that tested for cats over took eight of the other tests and the discomfort was unbearable. Same with the rag weed. They used rubbing alcohol and itching cream on my arms and it still didn't stop for about 2 hours. I literally wanted to cut my arm off.

Just a heads up

:thumbsup: nice looking out