Allergy Testing
Hi, thank you for coming back for the latest edition of Beyond Primary Care’s blog- Allergy Testing. In Beyond Primary Care blogs we highlight healthcare news, advice for medical conditions, and how membership for care works! Beyond Primary Care is an insurance free, membership based family medicine clinic. Beyond Primary Care is the highest rated Direct Primary Care clinic serving patients in Ann Arbor and throughout Washtenaw, Livingston, and Wayne counties giving families and employers peace of mind about healthcare costs by providing affordable and accessible primary care services.
The primary purpose of the blog is to introduce healthy lifestyle concepts and answer common questions we receive from patients that we believe are important. We want to start discussions that will help educate, benefit, and improve your well-being.
In this blog post, we want to educate our patients and any prospective patients about allergy testing.
Allergy Testing
As we age, our body changes and adapts to the allergies in the environment. Our surroundings change as well. Some people may find that they had allergies as children that they grew out of, while other adults may suddenly suffer from new reactions. Other than knowing you are experiencing allergy symptoms and want treatment, many people simply can not identify what they are allergic to.
There are several types of allergy tests available, each with a different objective. Beyond Primary Care offers skin prick allergy testing to confirm your allergy suspicions and to identify the specific allergens that trigger your response. Skin tests- the ‘gold standard’ of testing’ are highly sensitive and can detect allergies that other forms of testing may miss. Additionally, skin tests involve little to no discomfort, making them favorable to perform- even on children.
How to prepare for an allergy test
Please be honest about all medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, you take. You may have to stop medications a few days before your allergy test. Examples of medications you would have to pause regular use of include:
Antihistamines (eg- Allegra, Zyrtec, Claritin, Benadryl, Hydroxyzine, Dramamine, Xyzal)
Combination mediations (eg- Tylenol Cold & Sinus, Vicks Formulas)
Sleep Aids (eg- Doxepin, Trazodone)
Herbal Supplements
Beta Blockers (eg- carvedilol, propranolol, metoprolol, labetalol, atenolol)
Other medications (eg- Amitriptyline, Pepcid, Zantac)
Allergy Skin Testing
At the start of skin testing, the doctor will mark off a grid on your body. The doctor will apply a diluted amount of a suspected allergen (the substance you are sensitive to) on the skin, testing for several potential allergens at once. After an amount of time has been allowed for an allergic reaction to occur, the doctors will observe your skin for an allergic reaction. Most of the grid areas will remain without any reactions. When you have allergies to a substance, your skin will show a reaction, typically between 10-20 minutes.
Skin testing also includes two tests along with the many allergens that are used to see if your skin is reacting normally. One test is a histamine control test, to which your skin should react. Another test is a glycerin control test, to which your skin should not react.
You can complete allergy skin testing through our office and be diagnosed with reactions to airborne allergens such as:
Dust mites
Animal Dander
Tree Pollen
Grass Pollen
Mold Spores
Is allergy testing dangerous?
Patients are closely monitored throughout the test in case of an extreme reaction. Most people are fine, and wheals (reactions) go away within a few hours.
Effective and affordable treatment
Beyond Primary Care is a Direct Primary Care clinic and our mission is to make your healthcare as affordable and accessible as possible. Allergy immunotherapy is offered to our patients by sublingual drops through Allergy Choices and can help our patients achieve immune protection that is long-term. The drops are initially given to you in small doses over a period of months and then stronger concentrations are eventually given.
Unlike allergy shots that are expensive and require weekly trips to the physician office, Beyond Primary Care offers allergy drops delivered to your home four times a year. Allergy drops are ideal for people who are scared of needles, they are safe, effective, and convenient.
Thank you for reading
Dr. Jeff O’Boyle with Beyond Primary Care
