Preparing for your Allergy Test

Our allergy specialists use a range of testing to help pinpoint exactly what you might be allergic to so that precise treatment can be determined. Two of the most commonly used methods are skin testing and blood testing.

Skin Testing

Skin testing works by exposing the skin to suspected allergens and then observing the skin to see if there is a reaction. Your doctor may use a type of skin testing known as a skin prick test, which can check for many different types of allergens – such as pollen, mold and pet dander – at once. These tests are not painful and only use needles that barely penetrate the skin’s surface. In certain situations, skin testing may not be right for you, in which case your doctor may use RAST resting instead.

RAST Testing

Radioallergosorbent testing, or RAST, is a blood test that looks for specific allergen-related antibodies in your blood in order to identify your specific allergy triggers.