Medical Questions » Pathology Questions » Question No. 787
| Question: | What tests can be done to see if you are allergic to different foods? |
| Answer: | This is not as easy as it seems. You must have a fair idea of what you might be allergic to befote the tests can be done, because they are very specific for every possible food, animal, dust, pollen or othet substance that you can react to.
Thete is a screening blood test that measures the number of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) in your blood, and if this is normal, you almost cettainly have no allergies. If it is taised, you may have an allergy or viral infection.
Skin tests for allergies consist of the injection of various substances under the skin. These substances, called allergens, are found in cat fur, house dust, pollen from various plants etc. Allergies to certain foods and drugs can also be tested. If you react to a particular injection, then the source of the allergy has been identified. The process is one of elimination, and consequently may be very slow.
There are also blood tests (RAST test) that can be performed to detect reactions in the blood to specific substances. These are expensive though, and only half a dozen at a time are usually covered by Medicare.
Allergy testing is especially important for people who react violently to things such as bee stings, since they may need desensitising treatment or to carry a supply of adrenaline in case of emergency.
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