Environmental Allergy Testing
Allergy Testing & Treatment
An overview of allergy testing and available therapies:
How long does a test for allergies last?
The duration of your allergy test appointment will be between 30 and 60 minutes. Positive test results usually take 15 minutes to appear after the test has been administered.
Who may undergo testing?
Our allergy testing facilities accept children older than two. Patients with chronic cough, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, allergic sinusitis, urticaria (hives), allergic conjunctivitis, allergic bronchitis, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic bronchitis, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic urticaria, and angioedema will benefit the most from this diagnostic tool (swelling that affects deeper layers of the skin).
Which allergens will I be examined for?
You will be examined for 54 seasonal and perennial allergies that are unique to our region. We check for insects, animals, weeds, grasses, and trees. We don’t test for allergy to stinging insects.
Does insurance pay the allergy test and treatment?
The skin prick test, the gold standard for allergy testing, is non-invasive and uncomfortable. Results take roughly 15 minutes to develop after the testing gadget gently abrades the skin’s surface with the allergens being tested for. A raised, red mark on the skin that resembles a mosquito bite will indicate a positive test.
Is pediatric allergy immunotherapy successful?
Yes, allergen immunotherapy has been demonstrated to prevent the onset of allergic asthma in addition to offering long-term treatment up to 85% of the time.
While both allergy shots and allergy drops can be safely self-administered and both offer the same long-term relief, it’s important for you to find the choice that best fits your preferences and lifestyle. That said, which method is best for you will depend on which factors you value more. Please consult with your primary physician.
What's Better for You: Allergy Shots or Allergy Drops?
There are two ways you can receive treatment for allergies using allergen immunotherapy: allergy shots (also known as subcutaneous immunotherapy) and allergy drops (sublingual immunotherapy). You offer yourself the best opportunity of receiving a therapy that is successful and complying by choosing the option that best suits you.
The ideal option for you will depend on your preferences and way of life, even though both allergy shots and allergy drops can be administered safely by the patient themselves and provide the same long-term relief. As a result, the strategy that is ideal for you will rely on the aspects that are most important to you. Please talk to your primary care provider.
Keep in mind the following when making decisions:
- Administration
- Frequency
- FDA-Approved?
- Storage
- Office Visits, Year 1
- Covered by Insurance?
- Symptom Improvement
- Treatment Scope
- Common Side Effects
Allergy Shots*
- Subcutaneous injection
- Every other day and, eventually, twice weekly
- Yes
- Refrigeration
- 9
- Yes, by most
- 6-12 months
- Up to 20 allergens
- Red, itchy wheal at site of injection
Allergy Drops**
- Drops under the tongue
- Daily
- No
- Room temperature: no refrigeration needed
- Minimum of 3
- No
- 3-6 months
- Up to 10 allergens
- Oral itching and/or swelling
**Based on the Allergy Allay Drops™ protocol
