Allergy diagnostics

Overview

Every allergy work-up begins with a detailed conversation about your symptoms and possible triggers. We also offer all the established, standardised test procedures in our practice and evaluate them in our in-house laboratory.

Which tests make sense depends on your symptoms and on the suspected form of allergy. We choose the suitable procedures together with you.

Areas of application

• Suspected allergy with recurring symptoms
• Unclear skin, eye, nasal or respiratory symptoms
• Suspected contact allergy (e.g. work-related)
• Work-up prior to a planned hyposensitisation
• Allergy work-up in early childhood too (via blood test)

Procedure

1. Detailed medical history

   We discuss your symptoms, when they occur and what might have triggered them. From that it follows which tests make sense.

2. Choosing and carrying out the tests

   Depending on the question, we carry out skin tests (patch, prick, scratch or intradermal test) and/or a blood test (RAST).

3. Evaluation and discussion of the findings

   The tests are evaluated in our in-house laboratory. We then discuss the result with you and, if that is needed, derive a treatment recommendation.

What to expect

• Immediate-type skin tests (prick, scratch, intradermal) are as a rule read after about 20 minutes.
• The patch test (contact allergy) is as a rule read after 48 and 72 hours; with certain substances an additional late reading (after several days) makes sense. That requires further appointments.
• The blood test for specific IgE antibodies (still often called the “RAST test”) is also suitable for a work-up in early childhood.
• Certain medicines (e.g. antihistamines) can influence skin tests. Please agree this with us beforehand and do not stop taking anything on your own.

Risks & notes

• Skin tests are as a rule well tolerated; at the test sites, temporary itching, redness or weals can occur.
• With the patch test, reactions at the test site can persist for a few days; rarely, temporary pigment changes remain, or the test itself causes a new sensitisation.
• Very rarely, above all with the intradermal test, a stronger and also systemic allergic reaction up to anaphylactic shock can occur. The tests are therefore carried out under medical supervision with the option of immediate emergency treatment; after risk tests we keep you under observation in the practice for an appropriate period.

Our test procedures

• Patch test – suspected contact allergens are applied with a plaster (usually on the back) and as a rule read after 48 and 72 hours, with certain substances additionally later.
• Prick test – the internationally recognised standard procedure for immediate-type allergies: an allergen solution is introduced through a small puncture on the inner side of the forearm, read after about 20 minutes.
• Scratch test – the allergen solution is applied to a lightly scratched test area on the forearm, read after about 20 minutes.
• Intradermal test – an allergen solution is introduced into the skin, read as in the prick test after about 20 minutes.
• Blood test for allergen-specific antibodies (determination of specific IgE, still often called the “RAST test”) – well suited to picking up allergies early, in young children too.

Frequently asked questions

Which allergy tests do you offer?

Patch, prick, scratch and intradermal tests as well as the RAST blood test. Which tests make sense depends on your symptoms; evaluation takes place in our in-house laboratory.

Do the tests hurt?

The skin tests are only slightly uncomfortable. With the prick and scratch test the skin is merely scratched superficially; the intradermal test and the blood draw are a brief prick.

Do I have to stop taking medicines beforehand?

Some medicines (e.g. antihistamines) can distort skin tests. Please discuss this with us beforehand and do not stop taking anything on your own.

Can children be tested too?

Yes. The RAST blood test in particular is suited to picking up allergies early, in early childhood too.