Allergy to Mold - Dander - Dust

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Diagnosis & Tests

The history of the person's symptoms is important in diagnosing allergies, including whether the symptoms vary according to time of day or the season and possible exposures such as having a pet in the household.

Allergy testing is done to see what is cuasing the symptoms (i.e., to identify the specific allergens ):

• Skin testing is the most common and useful method. This may include intradermal, scratch, patch, or other tests.
• Less commonly, the suspected allergen is dissolved and dropped onto the lining of the lower eyelid as a means of testing for allergies. (This test should only be done by a physician, never the patient, since it can be harmful if done improperly.)
• In individuals that cannot undergo skin testing (as determined by the doctor), a RAST blood test (to look for IgE antibodies to a specific allergen) may be helpful.

• a WBC count, particularly eosinophil count
• serum immunoelectrophoresis