Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
Diagnostic Procedures for Allergy
Diagnostic tests for allergy may include any/all of the following:
- skin tests
The skin test is a very accurate test that measures your child's level of IgE antibodies in response to certain allergens or triggers. Using small amounts of solution that contain different allergens, your child's physician will either inject under the skin or apply the allergens with a small scratch. A reaction would appear as a small red area. A reaction to the skin test does not always mean your child is allergic to the allergen that caused the reaction. This will be determined by your child's physician.Skin testing is usually not performed on children who have had a severe life-threatening reaction to an allergen or have severe dry skin (eczema).
- blood tests
Blood tests for allergies measure IgE antibodies to specific allergens in the blood. The blood test most commonly used is called RAST (radioallergosorbent test). Blood tests may be used when skin tests cannot by performed. As with skin testing, it is important to remember that a positive blood test does not always mean your child is allergic to that allergen.
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Online Resources page of this Web.
Contact Information
Caplin, James A., M.D. . . . . . . .(361) 888-6782
Smith, Gary, M.D. . . . . . . . . . . . .(361) 882-3487
Stafford, Wesley, M.D. . . . . . . . .(361) 992-8500
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Voted Best Place to Work in 2006 and 2007 | Ways to Give | Contact Us
Copyright © Driscoll Children's Hospital 2008
Corpus Christi, Texas
Live website tracking by Visistat
