AllRefer Health - Allergy Testing: Risks (Patch Tests - Allergy, RAST Test, Scratch Tests - Allergy, Skin Tests

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You are here : AllRefer.com > Health > Tests & Exams > Allergy Testing: Risks

Allergy Testing


•	Definition
•	Why is the Test Performed?
•	How is the Test Performed?
•	How to Prepare for the Test?
•	How will the Test Feel?
•	Normal Values
•	What do Abnormal Results Mean?
•	Special Considerations
•	Risks
•	Pictures & Images
•	Go To Main Page

Alternate Names : Patch Tests - Allergy, RAST Test, Scratch Tests - Allergy, Skin Tests - Allergy

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Risks

Skin tests and food allergy tests carry a risk that you will experience an allergic reaction when exposed to the allergens. Some sensitive persons will (rarely) experience a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction.

Penicillin (and closely related medications) are the only drugs that can be tested using skin tests. (Skin tests for other drugs are at best non-informative and can be dangerous).

Tests that are not proven as valid include cytotoxic testing (in which foods are mixed in a test tube with a sample of the person's blood and then the white blood cells are observed for a change in shape) and "provocation and neutralization" testing (in which the person is injected with a food or other substance and, if there is an allergic reaction, they are injected with more of the substance to "neutralize" the response; this can be very dangerous!).

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• Definition
• Why is the Test Performed?
• How is the Test Performed?
• How to Prepare for the Test?
• How will the Test Feel?
• Normal Values
• What do Abnormal Results Mean?
• Special Considerations
• Risks
• Pictures & Images

Review Date : 10/30/2003
Reviewed By : Donald Accetta, MD, MPH. President, Allergy & Asthma Care, PC, Taunton, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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