Tests for Allergies

It is always important to know if you have any allergies, and what those allergies are so that you can prevent or limit your exposure to the allergens in order to avoid having a reaction to them or to limit the extent of that reaction to the best of your ability. There are two types of tests that you can take to determine which allergies you have, if any. The first type of test is a skin test. This is where a small amount of an allergen is applied to or placed just beneath your skin. The amount of allergens used is not significant enough to cause an extreme reaction but if you are allergic to any of the allergens tested, you will have a very minor reaction that will indicate your allergy level.

There are three types of skin tests for allergies and also a blood test which can be used for people who are for any reason unable to have skin tests. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA is the most commonly performed blood test type used. This test works by measuring the blood level of a specific type of antibody that the body produces in reaction to certain allergens. These antibody levels are often much higher in persons who suffer from asthma or allergies.