Questions about my first ever allergy test - Allergies Message Board

NYCman · 06-12-2009, 11:33 AM

Hello,

I just received back results from my first ever allergy blood test. It shows that I am allergic to about 20-30 different things. Some of them are understandable (I received a high number for shrimp, a food that I had to learn the hard way I was allergic to). Others are not so understandable (I received a very high # for cockroaches, but I grew up with them my entire life.). I am 24 years old now. If I were really as allergic to cockroaches as the paper says, I would've been dead by now.

Anyway, is there anyone who can help me understand my results better? I don't want to post the whole list because most probably won't read it, but if anyone can take a quick look at it and help me out, I'd appreciate it. Please email me at * email address removed by hb-mod, moderator * or send me a private message please. Thanks.

Titchou · 06-12-2009, 11:46 AM

Well, your reaction to the different allergens will be different. So just because grass gives you itchy eyes and a runny nose does not mean that cockroaches will. Your reaction to them may be different. So that does not correlate.

Frankly, I don't trust the blood test as much as I do the skin scratch test for environmental allergies...but that's a personal decision. For food allergies, the blood test tends to be better. So if there were any other food allergies on there, I'd pay attention to them. Did your doctor not go over the results with you?