Is Allergy Skin Testing Right For You?
If you have chronic sinus or ear infections, or if you’re plagued by allergy symptoms so often that they affect your lifestyle, you may be a candidate for allergy skin testing. Allergy symptoms may include sneezing, a runny nose, post nasal drip or itchy eyes. Because not every adverse reaction to an external agent is an allergy, our ear, nose, and throat doctors are uniquely qualified to determine the cause and the best course of treatment for your symptoms. A clinical diagnosis of allergy, based on thorough history and examination, must exist before the allergy test is done. The purpose of allergy skin tests is to confirm the presence of allergies and to select an allergen for avoidance or immunotherapy.
There are different methods of allergy testing. Our board-certified physicians will help determine which method of allergy skin testing is right for you.
Skin/Serial Endpoint Titration (SET) Allergy Testing
This skin testing is done on the arm. SET begins when a diluted amount of a non-reacting antigen is placed on the skin. results of testing indicate a safe starting dose for immunotherapy. This allergy test can be done on children as young as five. Please call our office for specific information.
Intradermal Dilution Testing (IDT)
Intradermal Dilution Testing is a method of allergy skin testing that determines whether or not an allergy exists, and also predicts the highest safest starting dose for allergy injections, (immunotherapy) if treatment is needed. This ‘custom fit’ approach to treatment often achieves symptom relief faster than other testing methods.
WHERE CAN I GET AN ALLERGY TEST?
Get an allergy test at any of our 6 convenient Raleigh, Cary, Garner or Wake Forest locations.
Make an appointment to discuss allergy skin testing with a physician. Once you have been evaluated by the ENT doctor, a referral for testing will be sent to the Allergy Department. A health care professional from the Allergy Department will contact you within a week and set up an appointment for testing.
Depending upon your specific allergy and the type of skin test order, the test may take up to two hours to complete. We also suggest that you eat a good meal prior to testing. If you believe you would like to have a topical anesthetic to help numb your upper arms for testing, please let us know before your appointment. We’ll also give you important information on environmental controls at the time of your test.
ALLERGY TEST RESULTS
You’ll receive the test results as soon as you are finished. We will then schedule a follow-up appointment to determine whether or not you are a candidate for immunotherapy.
For more information, please click on the link below to see our Allergy Testing Information and Consent Form:
Allergy Testing Information and Consent