How to get tested for allergens correctly

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Detailed instructions that will help you find out exactly what the allergy is and whether it is at all.

The first thing to understand is that allergies are unpredictable.

• It can arise for anything. Food, pollen, pet saliva and dander, insect bites, house dust and mold, household chemicals, cosmetics, latex - any of these elements can trigger your immune system to overreact.
• Anyone can get it. Scientists still do not know exactly what mechanisms make the immune system malfunction in such a cunning way. This means that there are no people who are insured against allergies.
• It can arise at any time. If you have never been sprinkled on strawberries and you have not sneezed on birch pollen, this does not mean that allergies have spared you.

Therefore, if you suspect that you have an allergy, you may not be mistaken. But before reaching for an antihistamine, you should still make sure that we are talking about this immune malfunction, and not about another disease.

Here's a detailed step-by-step guide.

1. Check your symptoms against allergy signs

Allergic reactions are very diverse. However, there are a number of symptoms of Allergy Blood Tests that are most common:

• nasal congestion;
• allergic rhinitis - flows from the nose for no reason at all;
• attacks of obsessive dry cough;
• endless sneezing;
• reddened eyes that itch and water;
• diarrhea;
• nausea, sometimes up to vomiting;
• itching of the skin, which is accompanied by the appearance of spots, scaly areas or rashes, sometimes swelling.

The most severe stage of allergy is anaphylactic shock. In this case, the body's immune response to the allergen is so strong that it threatens life. If you notice swelling in the area of the face, lips, tongue, neck, as well as difficulty breathing, dizziness, weakness, then call an ambulance immediately.

2. Make sure it is really allergic

Allergy is one of those "simple" diagnoses that you are tempted to make yourself. But this cannot be done. For a simple reason: dozens of other diseases are similar to allergies - from ARVI, worms and shingles to asthma.

Therefore, if you experience symptoms similar to those of an allergic reaction, the best solution is to see a therapist.

The doctor will listen to your complaints, conduct an examination, ask additional questions: about your lifestyle, products and medicines that you use, household chemicals and cosmetics used, pets. Perhaps the therapist will suggest another diagnosis, which you have not even thought about, and will ask you to be tested - for example, feces to exclude a parasitic infection.

3. Take a blood test to determine total immunoglobulin E (IgE)

You will be assigned it if an allergy still falls under suspicion. Immunoglobulins are Allergies antibodies that our body produces in response to the invasion of substances that are dangerous from its point of view. In the process of fighting a threat, antibodies release specific chemicals - in particular, histamines. They also cause allergy symptoms.

The purpose of a total IgE test is to determine how much antibodies are in your blood. If their level is higher than normal (it will also be indicated in the test results), this may be a sign of an allergic reaction. The more IgE in the body, the more actively you are in contact with the irritant.

True, what exactly is an allergen, this analysis will not show. This will require more research.

Attention! You can, of course, be tested for total immunoglobulin E (IgE) yourself. But it is more correct to do this in the direction of a doctor. The fact is that an increased level of antibodies sometimes speaks not only of allergies, but also of other unpleasant Test ID processes: IGEImmunoglobulin E (IgE), Serum inside the body - infections, inflammations, and the development of tumors. Therefore, a physician should evaluate the test results.

4. Get tested to determine your allergen

If the therapist decides that this is indeed an allergy, he or she will refer you to an allergist. A specialist will help you figure out what exactly you have such a reaction to. There are two ways to Allergy Skin Tests.

Skin allergy tests

It is the cheapest, fastest and most reliable way to identify your personal allergen. There are three types of skin tests used in modern medicine.

Scarification test

On the marked skin of the hand (or back - in children), the nurse uses a special tool - a scarifier - to make several scratches. A microscopic dose of the suspected allergen is entered into each of them. After 15–40 minutes, it becomes clear whether the patient has a specific immune response to any of these substances. The scratch will turn red, it will begin to itch, and a swelling will appear on it, like after a mosquito bite. If the size of such an area exceeds 2 millimeters, the reaction to the allergen is considered positive.

To reduce the risk of error, saline and histamine are sequentially dripped into the scratches before potential irritants are applied. If the skin reacts to the saline solution, it means that it is hypersensitive and the test may turn out to be false positive. If the epidermis does not respond to histamine, there is a chance that the allergy test will be falsely negative.

In any of these two cases, other tests will most likely be required - for example, a blood test for specific immunoglobulins G and E (see below).

Prik test

It looks like a scarification one, but instead of scratches, the patient's skin is only slightly pierced (from the English prick - a prick) in the place where the potential allergen is applied. After 15–20 minutes Diagnosis. Allergies skin is checked for reactions. Redness and blistering are a sign that an allergen has been detected.

Patch test (application)

It consists in the fact that plasters are glued on the patient's back, on which up to 30 potential allergens are applied. They are kept for up to 48 hours - all this time it is necessary to avoid water procedures and excessive sweating. The doctor will then remove the patches and evaluate the result.

Blood test for specific immunoglobulins G and E

Determination of allergens using a blood test is more expensive, time-consuming and less accurate. However, there are situations in the Allergy Blood Test when it is better to have a blood test rather than a skin test. Here they are:

• You are taking a medication that may affect the result of your skin allergy test, but the drug cannot be stopped for a few days. These include antihistamines and steroids, asthma medications, and some antidepressants.
• For some reason, you cannot take a few punctures or scratches. This is often the case with young children.
• You have heart problems.
• You are suffering from asthma with poorly controlled attacks.
• You have eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, or other skin conditions that do not have enough clear skin on your hands or back.
• You once had anaphylactic shock.

During the analysis, your blood will simply be taken from a vein. Then it is divided into several portions and each is mixed with various potential allergens - food components, plant pollen, chemicals, mold spores. After a few days, specialists will examine the reaction of each of the samples and calculate the so-called immune response.

The more active it is, the more dangerous a particular substance is for you.

The result will be given in the form of a table, where substances harmful and safe for you personally will be indicated. However, it is not you yourself who should interpret this information, but the attending physician. It is he who, based on the data obtained, will prescribe the most effective treatment and recommend lifestyle changes that will help cope with allergies.