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Step 1
The Allergy scratch test is a test to see what foods, medications, plants, dust, animals, or molds the person is allergic to. They check for a skin reaction to a protein that can signal to the doctor what items the person is allergic to. Once the allergy test is over, roughly half an hour after it began, then your doctor will be able to tell you if you were allergic to any of the items in the allergy scratch test panel that day. You will not have to wait.
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Step 2
At the time of the appointment, you and your doctor will discuss your lifestyle and any past allergic reactions. You will come to an agreement as to what items will be tested for allergies. If the test subject is a child, the test will be given on the back; if an adult, on the forearm.
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Step 3
Fluid will drop on to the skin in certain areas and the doctor will make a small scratch, not even deep enough to draw blood. The prick to the skin is just to get the fluid under the skin surface.
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Step 4
You will have to stay still for up to a half hour to wait for a reaction. After this time your skin may itch, but you must stay as still as possible. Once completed, your doctor will see if there is any redness or swelling and if so, you have a positive allergy test for the protein that was dripped into that area.
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Step 5
You may get an allergy test for a few or for quite many different proteins at one time, the choice for the amount and for which proteins will be made by you and your healthcare provider.
