An allergy test is an exam performed by a trained allergy specialist to determine whether your body has an allergic reaction to a known substance. The exam can be in the form of a blood or skin test (prick/patch).
Your immune system is your body’s natural defense. Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to something in your environment. For example, pollen, which is normally harmless, can cause the immune system to overreact. This overreaction can lead to:
- 流鼻涕
- sneezing
- 封锁了鼻窦
- 痒，水汪汪的眼睛
- 咳嗽或喘息
过敏原是可能导致过敏反应的物质。有三种主要类型的过敏原：
- 吸入过敏原affect the body when they come in contact with the lungs or membranes of the nostrils or throat. Pollen is the most common inhaled allergen.
- 摄入过敏原are present in certain foods, such as peanuts, soy, and seafood.
- Contact allergens必须与皮肤接触以产生反应。来自接触过敏原的反应的一个例子是由毒常春藤引起的皮疹和瘙痒。
过敏测试涉及将您暴露于非常少量的特定过敏原并记录反应。
Allergies affect more than 50 million people living in the United States, according to the美国过敏院，哮喘和免疫学（ACAAI）。吸入过敏原are by far the most common type.
世界过敏组织估计哮喘负责250,000人死亡annually. These deaths can be avoided with proper allergy care, as asthma is considered an allergic disease process.
过敏测试可以确定您过敏的特定花粉，霉菌或其他物质。您可能需要药物治疗您的过敏。或者，您可以尝试避免过敏触发器。
Before your allergy test, your doctor will ask you about your lifestyle, family history, and more.
他们最有可能告诉您在过敏测试之前停止服用以下药物，因为它们可能会影响测试结果：
- prescription and over-the-counter antihistamines
- certain heartburn treatment medications, such as famotidine (Pepcid)
- 地西泮(安定)或罗拉苯二氮卓类,如zepam (Ativan的）
- tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil)
- 系统皮质类固醇（如果您正在接受补丁测试）
过敏测试可能涉及皮肤测试或验血。
皮肤测试
皮肤测试用于鉴定众多潜在的过敏原。这包括空中，与食物相关和接触过敏原。三种类型的皮肤测试是划伤的，intradermal, and patch tests.
您的医生通常首先尝试划痕测试。在该测试期间，将过敏原置于液体中，然后用一种特殊的工具将液体放在皮肤的一部分上，用一个特殊的工具轻轻刺破过敏原进入皮肤表面。
You’ll be closely monitored to see how your skin reacts to the foreign substance. If there’s localized redness, swelling, elevation, or itchiness of the skin over the test site, you’re allergic to that specific allergen.
如果划痕测试不确定，您的医生可能会命令皮质皮肤测试。该测试需要将少量过敏原注入皮肤的真皮层。再次，您的医生将监控您的反应。
另一种形式的皮肤测试是贴剂测试（
在您离开医生办公室后，补丁将留在您的身体上。然后在施用后48小时内审查贴剂，并在申请后再次达到72至96小时。
血液测试
If there’s a chance you’ll have a severe allergic reaction to a skin test or cannot perform a skin test, your doctor may order a blood test.
对于该测试，在实验室中测试血液样品，用于存在对抗特定过敏原的抗体。叫ImmunoCAP，该测试非常成功地检测到主要过敏原的IgE抗体。
Learn aboutRAST测试与皮肤测试之间的差异。
If you discover you have an allergy, there are several ways to proceed. If it’s an allergy to a food, it may be as simple as removing that food from your diet.
Other allergiesrequire treatment。
In some cases, your doctor may prescribe medications likeantihistaminesorcorticosteroids。
另一个治疗选项是immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots. During immunotherapy, you’ll be given shots containing small amounts of the allergen so your body can slowly build up immunity.
对于危及生命过敏的人来说，您的医生可能会规定紧急情况epinephrine。
There are also a number ofhome remediesthat may help prevent or reduce symptoms of allergies. These include air filters and saline nasal or sinus rinses.
Allergy tests may result in mild itching, redness, and swelling of the skin. Sometimes, small bumps called wheals appear on the skin.
These symptoms often clear up within hours but may last for a few days. Mild topical steroid creams can alleviate these symptoms.
在极少数情况下,产生immedi过敏测试ate, severe allergic reaction that requires medical attention. That’s why allergy tests should be conducted in a doctor’s office that has adequate medications and equipment, including epinephrine to treat anaphylaxis, which is a potentially life threatening acute allergic reaction.
如果在离开医生办公室后，请立即打电话给医生。
如果你有症状，立即拨打911anaphylaxis， 如：
- 喉咙肿胀
- 呼吸困难
- 快速的心率
- 低血压
严重的过敏反应是一种医疗紧急情况。
Once your doctor has determined which allergens are causing your symptoms, you can work together to come up with a plan for avoiding and managing them.
Your doctor can also suggest medications that may ease your symptoms.