blood or skin allergy testing??

GettingWellAgain

I was actually wondering the same thing. I've heard of the skin testing, and blood testing by either a RAST or ELISA test and I'm not sure which is better. I'm also curious as to whether a regular allergist does this or if I would have to go to a naturopath or other doctor.

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Vestibular problems, CFS, adrenal issues.

Crossbow

My allergist did about 100 skin tests on me, then did blood tests on the 3 that had the most reaction, so he seemed to think the blood tests were more definite.

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Choose the devil you don't know.

Danitom

I am not sure which is more accurate but you may want to make sure your insurance covers both. Mine would NOT cover blood allergy testing (which was MUCH more expensive than skin tests)

crowgirl

My allergy specialists keep telling me that skin tests on their own don't confirm an allergy, but merely indicate it (the reliability of those tests is apparently not 100%). I think they once said something similar about RAST tests. Therefore, they say that they always look for several positives (i.e. skin and blood, skin and provocation/elimination etc.) before they confirm any particular allergy.

HTH!

Dear Maggie

... maybe it could be allergies ...

But these symptoms are all ones that a person's body would give if you were being chemically poisoned or overexposed to a chemical of some kind

Do you remember when they started? Do you also have fatigue and headaches?

artbuggy3

I don't think I am being chemically poisoned ot overexposed to a chemical. I am the only one in my family expierencing these problems. They breathing problems started about 2 1/2 years ago but i didn't pay much attention to them until about 6 or so months ago because they became worse and more frequent. I have allways had either ear infections or swimmers ear (even from getting in the shower) I don't think I have ever gone 6 months with out having one or the other. The sinus pressure, sneezing, runny nose, itchy throat and nose started getting really bad last year. I have headaches every once in a while but they are from TMJ. But I do feel fatigued sometimes but noe often. It seems to all have started close to when I started going through puberty. Thanks for replying though!

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Meredith

Dear Maggie

Some of that causes similar symptoms

chasersmom

My son has had testing both ways. They did the skin test to see what bothered him and then did the blood test to check for more detailed results. The blood tests also give you an overall total IgE level. His was extremely high for a 2 1/2 year at the time. But we took him off milk,wheat,malt and starting weekly injections for molds. They just redid the blood tests and now almost two years later it has dropped in half(the IgE level.) So the shots are helping.
Some insurances dont want to pay for these blood tests though because they are expensive approx. $600 was what we were charged and we had to pay around 150 of that. So check before you have them done.
Hope this helps.

GettingWellAgain

Those of you who had BLOOD allergy testing- did you see a regular ALLERGIST or did you have to go to a specialist such as a naturapath or homeopath? I want to specifically get regular allergy blood testing that measures the IgE levels and get RAST testing, if that isn't the same thing What type of doc do I call spefically? Should I call different allergists and ask if they do that type of testing b/c when I went to an allergist from the ages of 13-15, my allergist ONLY did skin testing.
Thanks,
Katalina
P.S.-Sorry to take over this post!

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Vestibular problems, CFS, adrenal issues.

artbuggy3

Don't worry about it!!! I was just about to ask the same thing! lol

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Meredith

Danitom

I am NOT positive if this is true of ALL ENT's but I DO know that my sons ENT suggested blood allergy testing at his office. My daughters ALLERGIST just did skin testing.....so.....maybe tyr an ENT if not an ALLERGIST

GettingWellAgain

Thank you that's very helpful: )

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Vestibular problems, CFS, adrenal issues.

blueberry2047

i recently went thru skin patch testing. I am allergic to formeldehyde and quantarium-15. they are both in most clothing. it was "eating holes" in my skin. My ins did cover the tests but now what do I do, I am allergic to all cloth but polyester,nylon and spandex, is ther anything out there to take formeldehyde-quant. out of materials

xavier213

I had both done and my insurance paid for both. LOL My regular primary care dr ordered the blood test ~ which only showed 4 allergies (cats, dogs, dust, and one tree) I then was referred to an asthma allergist who ordered the skin test.

I'm pretty scared of needles so I asked him why I would need a skin test if I had just had the blood test. What he told me is that the blood test can miss things the skin test shows because if you had the testing done in the winter when the pollen isn't out it won't be in your blood steam to show up. My blood test really only showed my indoor year round allergies. I had the skin one done and I'm allergic to 29 things!!!

All kinds of trees and ragweeds that didn't show up in the blood test. I would go with the skin testing if I were you. Like other people have said, it's *much* cheaper too. A lot of ins companies won't pay for the blood test because of it's price.

As far as who orders what my primary care dr said most, if not all, allergists will order a skin test and other dr's may order the blood ones. I think it just depends on who you go to and what their opinion is on the subject.
Katt

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chronic back & foot pain & now severe allergies! Just shoot me!!