Products For Sale in our Office

• Holding chambers with and without masks
• Skin care products for dry skin
• Nebulizers and masks for aerosol machines
• Allergen covers for pillow and mattress
• Carpet treatment for dust mites and dander

Intradermal Test
If the prick test is negative and we suspect that you are allergic to the allergen, we may choose to further test with intradermals. A small amount of a more concentrated allergen is placed under the skin with a small needle on the upper arm. A positive test includes a small hive and itching or redness.

After skin testing - For both the prick test and intradermal testing, the positive reactions are gone within about an hour.  You may return to normal activity when you are finished.  

IMPORTANT: Allergy testing and education require 1-2 hours of your time. We recommend that you limit the number of people at the visit. We would appreciate your complete attention during testing and teaching. Please review the section about medications to stop prior to skin testing. Please do not stop any asthma, heart or blood pressure medications. If you are uncomfortable about stopping any of your medications prior to your appointment, call us.

RAST
This is a blood test for allergy. This test may be done if the skin is extremely sensitive where a skin test would not be as reliable. This test may also be done if you are having allergy symptoms and are unable to stop your antihistamine. You do not need to stop any medications for this testing. As a rule RAST testing is not as accurate as skin testing for environmental allergens (pollen, dust, mold, mites, etc.).

Patch Testing
Rashes that occur on the skin have many different causes. Sometimes a contact allergy occurs because of what we rub or wear on the skin. Patch testing can help us determine whether you are allergic to something that touches your skin, such as metal, a certain lotion, medication or cosmetics. Patch testing involves taping a soft paper panel of suspected allergens usually on the upper back. This area needs to be kept dry. Two days after the patches are placed, you return to the office for patch removal and examination of the upper back. If a test is positive, there will be a small area of eczema. With this information, we can help you avoid the triggers of your eczema. Patch testing is essentially pain free.

Medications That Interfere With Allergy Testing
When you are scheduled for allergy testing on the skin, please avoid the following antihistamine medications for 5-7 days. (unless your health problems would be intolerable without them)

Alavert or Loratadine	Claritin or Loratadine	Clarinex or Desloratadine
Allegra or Fexofenadine	Zyrtec or Cetirizine

Please stop the following antihistamine medications 3 days prior to skin testing
Check your medication labels for the following words:

Astelin nasal spray	Atarax, Hydroxyzine	Benadryl/ diphenhydramine
Cardec	Chlortrimeton	Dimetapp/ brompheniramine
Drixoral	Duradryl	Extendryl
Pediacare	Rondec	Rynatan
Semprex	Tanafed	Tavist/Clemastine
Triaminic	Tussi products  (All)

Please be sure to list all of your medications when you come for your appointment, in fact we recommend that you bring all of your medications with you to your visit.

If you have any questions about medications, please call us.