Allergy testing is done by placing a very small amount of certain allergens onto your skin by using a small plastic device to prick the skin. The plastic points do not break the skin or draw blood and are relatively painless.

Results are ready within 30 minutes. Thereafter we will recommend various environmental controls to help you avoid these allergies.

Advantages over allergy blood testing.

 

• No blood draw
• Results are available immediately
• Lower price
• More accurate results

 

Blood testing, which is ordered at this office, is useful when you cannot discontinue your antihistamines or when you have a severe skin condition that may interfere with skin testing.

Testing available for pollen, molds, pet danders, foods, and many medications.

 

Patch Testing

Aids in the diagnosis of contact dermatitis

 

Pulmonary Function Testing

Useful in the diagnosis of asthma and COPD

 

Skin biopsy

Useful to evaluate rashes, hives, and dermatitis

 

Immunotherapy (the medical term for allergy shots)

This involves giving gradually increasing doses of the substance to which the person is allergic. This causes the immune system to become less sensitive to what you are allergic, probably by causing production of a "blocking" antibody, which reduces the symptoms of allergy when your exposed in the future.

This is the only treatment available that actually treats the root cause of your allergies and that has a chance to cure them instead of just controlling them like medications. Given once a week for 5 months then monthly. Every week a larger and larger amount of pollen is given to a patient.

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR GIVING ALLERGY (IMMUNOTHERAPY) INJECTIONS

 

1. TECHNIQUE:

Use a 1 mL disposable syringe and a 26 to 27 gauge needle. Carefully withdraw the proper amount from the appropriate vial. Cleanse the area with an alcohol swab before injecting. Give the injection SUBCUTANEOUSLY in the posterior aspect of the middle third of the arm. Gently draw back the plunger and if blood appears, withdraw the needle and select a new site. Slowly inject the extract, withdraw the needle, and apply pressure over the injection site for 15 to 20 seconds.

Do not massage the area. Either arm may be used or the arms may be alternated. Allergy extracts should be refrigerated (4℃). Avoid exposure to sunlight, extreme heat, or freezing. Do not administer expired allergy extracts.

 

2. A 3 0 MINUTE WAIT:

Each patient is expected to wait at least 30 minutes in a medical facility after receiving allergy injection treatment so that he or she can be checked for local and systemic reactions.

 

3. MANAGEMENT OF LOCAL REACTIONS:

NOTE:The wheal is the most significant part of the local reaction. If the wheal has pseudopods or is surro unded by hives it is especially significant.

(a) Negative: Swelling to 15 mm (dime size) - progress according to schedule.

(b) Swelling 15 - 20 mm (not redness), (dime to nickel size) - repeat same dosage.

(c) Swelling 20 - 25 mm (nickel to quarter size) - return to the last dosage which caused no reaction.

(d) Swelling persisting more than 12 hours or over 25 mm (quarter size or larger) -decrease dosage by 50%.

 

*If reduced dose is tolerated, increase dose by 0 .05 to 0.1 cc weekly and resume schedule.

 

4.SYSTEMIC REACTIONS:

 

Systemic reactions resulting from injections occur rarely in the course of treating allergic patients. Almost all reactions occur within 30 minutes after an injection. Symptoms may include itching of the palms of the hands or other parts of the body, sneezing, coughing, hives (welts), swelling of the lips or other areas, and shortness of breath. With severe reactions, acute asthma or a drop in blood pressure (anaphylaxis) may occur. At the first sign of a systemic reaction, a tourniquet may be applied above the injection site and epinephrine administered (about 0.2 mL for children aged 6 to 12 years, and 0.3 mL for adults). Epinephrine should be repeated if marked mprovement does not occur within minutes. Any hypotension or loss of consciousness should be treated first with epinephrine, followed by rapid intravenous infusion of normal saline solutions. Oxygen by mask or cannula should be administered if respiratory or circulatory compromise occurs. Antihistamines, glucocorticosteroids, vasopressors, and other medications may be necessary for a severe reaction. Occasionally intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation may be necessary. After involves receiving injections with increasing amounts of the allergens once a week.
Themaintenance phase begins once the highest dose is reached.

 

Please call us for a full evaluation on your allergy