Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update:
Dr. Beerelli is providing telehealth visits to help you stay on top of your allergies. Check out our COVID-19 policies before your next visit.
Get to the Bottom of Your Allergic Reactions!
Skin Testing for Allergies in Melbourne, FL
Learn more about skin testing for allergies from board-certified Allergist Dr. Pavana Beerelli in Melbourne, FL. If you have an upcoming skin testing appointment with us, check out our Do’s and Don’ts checklist to help you prepare.
“Melbourne Allergy and Asthma office was quick and easy to get an appointment even during the pandemic. Dr. Pavana Beerelli met with us by telehealth and was able to provide excellent insight into my child’s eczema and allergies. It was such a relief to finally have a treatment plan for my child. Dr. Beerelli was helpful and thorough in her approach. I would highly recommend her to anyone.”
– Danielle J, July 2020
Skin Testing Overview
Allergies Tested for in a Skin Test
- Allergic asthma, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis
- Food allergies – With some foods, only half of all positive tests are true positives. Test results may need further confirmation with a food challenge.
- Some medication allergies – Skin testing has been validated and standardized for the evaluation of some medication allergies. This is true for penicillin allergy skin testing. However, skin testing is not well-defined for other antibiotic and drug allergies.
- Venom allergies to wasps, hornets, bees, yellow jackets, and fire ants
Methods for Skin Testing
Skin Prick or Puncture
Skin prick testing is sensitive, but not very specific. It can accurately predict positive results less than 50 percent of the time. However, a negative skin test is 95 percent accurate in confirming the absence of an IgE-mediated allergy. Therefore, a false-negative skin allergy test result is uncommon.
Skin Prick-by-Prick Testing for Food Allergy
Intradermal Skin Test
Intradermal skin testing is typically performed when a prick or puncture test comes back negative but your doctor still believes you may be allergic to a particular substance. Because intradermal skin testing is highly sensitive, it is optimal for detecting venom allergies. However, intradermal skin testing is unacceptable for testing food or latex allergies due to the possibility of severe systemic reaction.
Because intradermal skin testing is more sensitive, there may be many small, positive reactions that are not clinically significant. This equates to more false-positives. Additionally, with intradermal skin testing, there is a higher risk of inducing a systemic allergic reaction, so prick or puncture testing is usually recommended prior to intradermal testing. This is especially true when testing for airborne allergens.
Skin Patch
Side Effects of Skin Testing
Anaphylaxis is rare but can occur during skin testing. It is almost always associated with intradermal testing without prior prick or puncture testing.
Who Can Benefit from Skin Testing
[2] American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: https://acaai.org
[3] Krzysztof, K, DuBuske, L. Overview of skin testing for allergic disease. UpToDate. Accessed July 2020.
[4] Brod, BA. Patch Testing. UpToDate. Accessed July 2020.
Skin Allergy Testing in Melbourne, FL
Dealing with an unknown allergic reaction? Get tested in Melbourne, FL. Dr. Beerelli is passionate about treating each of her patients with empathy, attentiveness and respect.
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