Allergy Testing and Immunotherapy

Who needs allergy testing?

Anyone with allergy symptoms which include rhino rhea (runny nose), nasal congestion, watery eyes, sneezing, itchy skin, and eczema. These symptoms can be daily or seasonal.

How do you do allergy testing?

Our office carries the Multi test II kit (the scratch test). This kit is designed to test the skin either on the forearm or the back for a response to an allergen. The kit is plastic and is dipped into allergen serum, then placed on the skin areas. These areas are monitored for a response for 15-20 minutes. This procedure is painless, no needles, non bloody, test that can give you quick and accurate results in minutes.

What allergies do you test for?

We test for the most common allergies such as dust mite, cat, cockroaches, molds, candida (yeast), certain trees and grasses. Our office is equipped to test for up to 36 allergies. Please schedule an allergy consult to find out more details. We do not test for food or medicine allergies.

Side Effects of allergy testing?

Itching and a rash can sometimes occur with a strong positive result. However, we do have anti-histamines and steroid cream to help eliminate these symptoms prior to leaving the office if symptoms do not self resolve once serum is removed from skin areas.

Who should not receive allergy testing?

Anyone that is on longstanding antihistamines. If possible, please stop all allergy products 2-3 days prior to testing.

What if I have a positive allergy response?

Our office is designed to treat the allergies with immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a series of injections of the allergen to help patients with symptoms. If you are allergic to more than one allergen, combination serums can be manufactured so the patient only needs to receive one injection. Injection series is once a week for 12 months, then every 2 weeks for 24 months. Patients start to see a response to immunotherapy within the first few series of injections.

Is Immunotherapy covered by insurance?

Most insurance carriers will pay for this treatment. Please call your provide for confirmation.

What about non injection therapy to treat allergies?

There is a sublingual (underneath the tongue) therapy that is approved and standard of care in Europe, however, that is NOT FDA approved here in the USA, which means it is not covered by insurance, and is expensive.

Who should NOT receive immunotherapy?

Anyone that is currently on a beta blocker such as metoprolol for blood pressure or heart disease. Anyone that has uncontrolled asthma. Anyone that has a history of anaphylaxis.

How do I set up a visit for allergy testing?

Call our office at 770-975-9077 to schedule an office visit for testing, which sometimes can be performed the same day as the consultation.

Common allergens include Molds (yellow spores), cat dander, dust mites, grasses, trees, and candida (yeast).

 Graphs of most common allergies in USA.

Multi test II allergy testing Kit

Plastic applicator is dipped into allergen serum as demonstrated in the picture below, and then applied to the patients' skin.

Above picture of a patient who had 36 skin test performed with a few positive results. (Positive results are large areas of swelling and redness which resolve within 20-30 minutes.)

Allergy testing can also be performed on the forearm. Marks are made on the skin with a sharpie for easier reading, and each row is labeled with a letter.

If tests are positive you would receive series of immunotherapy injections as seen in this photo. Immunotherapy sessions are quick and relatively painless and are administered by nurses with MD present in office.

Patients that have allergies and recieve immunotherapy are the happiest patients!