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The Allergy Clinic of Sarasota is a fully-licensed CLIA-certified lab that performs complex level immunology allergic response skin testing. At the Clinic in Sarasota, allergic response testing is performed through a simple blood test without the need for uncomfortable scratch or prick skin testing. In some cases, where a contact dermatitis is suspected, allergen-specific patch skin testing is performed at our clinic in Sarasota.
Skin testing (also called skin prick testing) has been used successfully by doctors for over 130 years and the skin testing results are almost immediate. Skin testing is described as a safe, slight pin-prick delivery of an allergen or allergens just under the skin, usually on the arm. It is used in Sarasota to test and measure the sensitivity and allergic response (purportedly of IgE-driven histamine reactivity) to foreign elements that may have found their way into the body. Most of these elements are proteins such as from cats, dogs or house dust mites. It is important that patients at our Sarasota clinic having allergy skin testing test must not use anti-histamine medication for several days prior to the skin testing. Blocking the histamine allergic response through the use of many common medications like aspirin may interfere with important readings. If an allergic response happens (usually a red itchy wheal or bump) it is taken as a reliable “YES” to the presence of IgE released histamine. It is not confirmation of an allergic disease. Many people who come to our clinic in Sarasota can have a positive skin testing allergic response without allergy symptoms. This is why it so important to have allergy skin testing carried out in a clinical setting, such as our clinic in Sarasota with the background notes of the patient’s medical and allergic response history available. In most cases, skin testing is available in our clinic in Sarasota. There are instances of a true systemic allergic response that occurs when the patient is undergoing this type of allergy skin testing and most patients at our clinic in Sarasota remember the discomfort associated with this type of skin testing.
Blood tests, often called RAST, CAP-RAST or allergen-specific IgE, measure the exact amount of circulating levels of IgE antibody in the blood. In this test, Dr. Rubinstein can request either the total amount of IgE in the blood (adding all triggers together) or specify just those allergens they suspect may be triggering symptoms of an allergic response, such as house dust mites, cat, dog or from a wide-range of different allergens, including foods, tree pollen, grasses, molds or fungi. With the allergic response test results, the doctor can confirm the relative levels of allergic sensitivity to various suspected triggers, and, in conjunction with a clinical history and examination, tailor treatments and advice on avoidance techniques to improve symptoms. If the results are negative and symptoms persist, further investigations may be required. This type of allergy testing can take from two days to a week or two to come back from our clinic in Sarasota. Unlike skin testing, there is no need to stop taking anti-histamines. These tests are usually routinely available and can be requested by Dr. Rubinstein at our clinic in Sarasota, just like any other blood test. The important thing is that whoever requests the allergic response test, takes a full allergic response history to help interpret the results. Some specialists at our clinic in Sarasota even investigate allergen-specific IgG antibodies as well to determine the adequacy of the allergy desensitization therapy or to evaluate the possibility of delayed food hyper-sensitivity allergic response. A delayed food allergic response is often missed by IgE-specific testing alone, which tends to be more accurate for identification of more immediate allergic response to foods.
Please contact us today at our Sarasota office to learn about skin testing and blood testing for your allergic response management.
