How to Take a Food Allergy Test

Food allergies are very broad, as they can be caused by many different foods and have a wide range of severities. Food allergy tests are essential to managing food allergies, but they are not always straightforward. Food allergy tests are very sensitive, which means false positives are a common result. Interpreting the tests to paint a true picture of your food allergy can be difficult. Consequently, food allergy tests must be used as part of a diagnostic strategy.

Things You'll Need

• Allergist/immunologist

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Instructions

• 1

  See an allergist/immunologist to get a food allergy test. These doctors are specialists in all kinds of allergies and can diagnose what is triggering your allergy.

• 2

  Write down all foods and beverages you or your child has ingested prior to having an allergic reaction in a journal. A food allergy test is most effective when it is used to confirm or reject a food that is suspected to cause an allergy.

• 3

  Describe your symptoms to your doctor. Not all food allergies cause anaphylactic shock. Symptoms range from digestive difficulties to skin irritations to swelling of the lips, tongue and throat.

• 4

  Try an elimination diet in which you avoid foods you might be allergic to for a couple of weeks before reintroducing them one at a time. This can help you pinpoint which foods are causing your symptoms.

• 5

  Take a skin test where small amounts of food extracts are introduced to your skin through a prick. A skin reaction in the form of a hive indicates a positive result.

• 6

  Get a blood test to look for antibodies called immunoglobulin E in your bloodstream. These antibodies indicate sensitivities to different foods.

• 7

  Look to your allergist/immunologist to make a diagnosis of your food allergy. The doctor will take into account your entire test results, history and food journal when making a diagnosis.

• 8

  Avoid all foods to which you have an allergy. There are no drugs you can take to treat food allergies.