Prick Technique: The prick technique involves introducing a small amount of allergen into the skin by making a small puncture through a drop of the allergen extract. If you have an allergy, the specific allergens that you are allergic to will cause a chain reaction to begin in your body.
Intradermal: involves injecting a small amount of allergen under the skin with a syringe. This form of testing is more sensitive than the prick skin test method. This form of allergy testing may be used if the prick skin tests are negative.
Scratch tests: The term scratch test refers to a technique not commonly used at the present, which involves abrading the skin and then dropping the allergen on the abraded site.
Challenge testing: Involves introducing small amounts of the suspected allergen by oral, inhaled or other routes. With the exception of food and medication, challenges are rarely performed. When they are performed, they must be closely supervised by an allergist/immunologist.
Blood (RAST) test-Sometimes your allergist/immunologist will do a blood test, called a RAST (radioallergosorbent) test. Since this test involves drawing blood, it costs more, and the results are not available as rapidly as skin tests. RAST tests are generally used only in cases in which skin tests cannot be performed, such as on patients taking certain medications, or those with skin conditions that may interfere with skin testing.
Other types of allergy testing methods the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology considers to be unacceptable are: applied kinesiology (allergy testing through muscle relaxation), cytotoxicity testing, urine autoinjection, skin titration (Rinkel method), provocative and neutralization (subcutaneous) testing or sublingual provocation. If your physician plans to conduct any of these tests on you, please see an AAAAI member allergist/immunologist for appropriate allergy testing.
Click here for more information
