How to Take a Food Allergy Test

Food allergies are very broad, as they can be caused by many different foods and have a wide range of severities. Food allergy tests are essential to managing food allergies, but they are not always straightforward. Food allergy tests are very sensitive, which means false positives are a common result. Interpreting the tests to paint a true picture of your food allergy can be difficult. Consequently, food allergy tests must be used as part of a diagnostic strategy.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Allergist/immunologist

1. See an allergist/immunologist to get a food allergy test. These doctors are specialists in all kinds of allergies and can diagnose what is triggering your allergy.

2. Write down all foods and beverages you or your child has ingested prior to having an allergic reaction in a journal. A food allergy test is most effective when it is used to confirm or reject a food that is suspected to cause an allergy.

3. Describe your symptoms to your doctor. Not all food allergies cause anaphylactic shock. Symptoms range from digestive difficulties to skin irritations to swelling of the lips, tongue and throat.

4. Try an elimination diet in which you avoid foods you might be allergic to for a couple of weeks before reintroducing them one at a time. This can help you pinpoint which foods are causing your symptoms.

5. Take a skin test where small amounts of food extracts are introduced to your skin through a prick. A skin reaction in the form of a hive indicates a positive result.

6. Get a blood test to look for antibodies called immunoglobulin E in your bloodstream. These antibodies indicate sensitivities to different foods.

7. Look to your allergist/immunologist to make a diagnosis of your food allergy. The doctor will take into account your entire test results, history and food journal when making a diagnosis.

8. Avoid all foods to which you have an allergy. There are no drugs you can take to treat food allergies.

Tips & Warnings

• Most people are not allergic to more than two foods. If you get a food allergy test that returns positive results for more foods, some of those results are likely false positives.
• Get a medical alert bracelet detailing your food allergy if you have severe reactions.
• Bring cards describing what you are allergic to when you eat in restaurants. By requiring the server and the chef to sign the card, you can help reduce the chance of being given something that will trigger your allergies.
• Anaphylactic shock is sudden and deadly. If you have severe allergies to common foods like peanuts or shellfish, you should carry an Epipen with you at all times in case you are accidentally exposed.
• Don't avoid foods because you suspect a food allergy. Take a food allergy test to confirm it. You can develop nutritional deficiencies from avoiding foods unnecessarily.
• Results of an elimination diet test can be skewed by psychological factors.
• Don't attempt an elimination diet if you have had a dangerous reaction to a food.

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