How to Prepare for an Allergy Test

An allergy test is a simple procedure that is performed in a doctor's office. Typically a skin test, an allergy test determines what allergens you are sensitive to. This information is important when determining how to treat your allergy symptoms. Allergy tests can be safely performed on people of all ages, and it's easy to prepare for one.

Instructions

• 1

  Find an allergist/immunologist to do the testing. Your primary care physician or health insurance company are good resources for finding these specialists trained to work with allergies.

• 2

  Give the doctor a complete medical history. Allergies can run in families, so your family history can be helpful in diagnosing your allergies.

• 3

  Talk to your doctor about your allergy symptoms, how you typically treat them and whether that treatment is successful. This information can help your doctor prepare your allergy test by suggesting what allergens might be responsible for your allergies.

• 4

  Disclose all of the medications you are taking before your allergy test. Antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants and some heartburn medications can interfere with your allergy tests and will need to be discontinued. Because some medications take longer than others to be eliminated from your body, you may have to delay your allergy test for up to 10 days to prepare your system.

• 5

  Discuss blood allergy tests with your doctor if you are unable to discontinue medication that will affect a skin allergy test. Blood allergy tests are not as sensitive as skin allergy tests, but they may be necessary in some cases.

• 6

  Schedule your skin allergy test when you have a couple of free hours. Skin allergy tests are performed in the doctor's office and can take some time if you are being tested for numerous allergens. You will also have to wait 15 to 20 minutes for your skin to react to the allergens.