Allergy Testing

Prim Care. 2016 Sep;43(3):363-74. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2016.04.001.

Abstract

Allergic diseases are common in outpatient primary care. Allergy testing can guide management to determine allergy as a cause of symptoms and target therapeutic interventions. This article provides a review of common methods of allergy testing available so that physicians may counsel and refer patients appropriately. Immediate-type hypersensitivity skin tests can be used for airborne allergens, foods, insect stings, and penicillin. Radioallergosorbent testing can be used to evaluate immediate-type hypersensitivity. Delayed-type hypersensitivity or patch-type skin tests are used in patients with suspected contact dermatitis.

Keywords: Allergen; Allergy testing; IgE hypersensitivity; Intradermal testing; In vitro allergy testing; Patch testing; Skin prick testing.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / blood
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / diagnosis*
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Primary Health Care / methods*
  • Radioallergosorbent Test / methods
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Skin Tests / adverse effects
  • Skin Tests / methods

Substances

  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
  • Immunoglobulin E