People manifest allergic reaction to a vast majority of substances, which at times can be as innocuous as dust. The allergist usually asks the patient to maintain a diary, which in most cases helps to determine the allergen. But in some cases the person might have to undertake a few tests to determine the primary cause of the allergy. These tests are often time-consuming and sometimes might not even yield any positive result. And yet they are necessary tool for the allergist to come to a conclusive diagnosis and begin the required treatment. The test procedure includes:

Skin Test

A plastic device is used to scratch the skin with various solutions which may contain insect, food or even airborne particles as a part of skin test. This is a quick test and the result is considered positive if any manifestations on the skin appear within 30 mins.

Patch Test

This test is generally conducted if any delayed reaction is suspected. A patch containing the allergen is placed on the patient’s upper back and marked with an indelible marker. The first observation is made after 48 hrs, if no reaction is seen then a second observation is made after 72- 96 hrs of application. Sometimes a reading might be required as late as 7 days after patch application.

Spirometry

Spirometry is generally conducted in people with asthma, to determine their severity of illness. Accordingly the patient is advised breathing exercises and a management plan is formulated to be followed by them.

Laboratory test

In some cases, allergies can be very hard to detect. In such a case, the allergist near you may assume that a patient is allergic to a particular thing but cannot conclude until further examination is conducted. He may conduct a few tests of the blood to confirm whether there is any immunological problem. But these tests can be very time consuming.

Imaging Techniques

Sometimes some particulate foreign matter might calcarize inside the body cavities resulting in respiratory problem or even CNS involvement. If the expert allergist suspects such a thing then an x-ray or a whole body CT scan can help in arriving at a conclusive diagnosis and further the treatment.