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Diagnostic Testing

We offer a variety of diagnostic tests at our clinic including allergy skin testing to help in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and food allergy. Skin tests may be helpful to identify food allergy triggers of eczema (commonly milk, wheat, soy, peanut, or tree nuts). We also offer spirometry which is also called pulmonary function testing to check for airway obstruction which may accompany diseases like asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis). We offer patch testing to check for allergic contact dermatitis (for example, nickel allergy or cosmetic allergy causing a rash around the eyelids). We can check for allergy to a wide variety of foods and spices.

We also offer skin testing to antibiotics in case of suspected medication allergy which can be helpful to determine if a minor reaction is a true medication allergy. Our office can schedule a graded oral challenge as the safest way to determine if your child can tolerate a food to which it is not certain whether they are allergic. These oral challenges are typically only done if skin tests and blood tests for allergy to the food is negative (or if it was positive but has recently become negative).

Skin testing to foods may be done down to 2 months of age since most food allergy occurs in young children. Skin testing to seasonal respiratory allergens (tree, grass, or weed pllen) is typically reserved for children 2 years of age and older since several seasons of exposure are usually required before one can develop respiratory allergies. Limited skin testing to year round or perennial allergens (dust mite, cat or dog dander, or mold) will occasionally be done at a younger age such as 6 months or older because patients may develop these allergies sooner than they do seasonal allergies.