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Allergy testing - Risks

Alternative Names

Patch tests - allergy; Scratch tests - allergy; Skin tests - allergy; RAST test

What the risks are:

Risks related to skin and food allergy tests may include:

Allergic reaction
Life-threatening anaphylactic reaction

Special considerations:

The accuracy of allergy testing varies quite a bit. Even the same test performed at different times on a person may give different results. A person may react to a substance during testing, but never react during normal exposure. Rarely, a person may also have a negative allergy test and still be allergic to the substance.

RAST test

Allergy skin prick or scratch test

Intradermal allergy test reactions

Skin testing, PPD (R arm) and Candida (L)

Reviewed last on: 1/9/2009
Stuart I. Henochowicz, MD, FACP, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Georgetown University Medical School. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Wallace DV, Dykewicz MS, Bernstein DI, Blessing-Moore J, Cox L, Khan DA, et al. The diagnosis and management of rhinitis: an updated practice parameter. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008 Aug:122(2).

Kurowski K, Boxer RW. Food allergies: detection and management. American Family Physician. 2008 June:77(12).

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