Allergy Testing in McComb, MS

At Southwest Mississippi ENT, we offer three types of allergy testing that can determine the presence of allergies:

Skin Prick Testing

A skin prick test is a quick method to determine a patient’s response to common allergens like pollen, dust mites, and pet dander – all of which can be found in your home, office, school, or environment. This test can be modified according to one’s age or comfort level. Today’s modern skin prick tests typically resemble fingernail scratches that don’t damage the skin or cause any bleeding.

Skin prick tests are safe and not painful. It’s typically administered on the arm but can be administered in different locations if the patient requires.

The skin prick test begins by cleansing the arm (or another body part) with alcohol to remove any foreign substance. Then, the area around the target for pricking will be marked. Next, the skin is pricked and a solution containing a small amount of the allergen is introduced to the body. Additionally, two control pricks will also be made for comparison. One contains saline while the other contains histamine and produces a mild allergic reaction.

The degree of the allergy will be measured based on the skin’s reaction. If there is an allergy to one of the pricks, there will appear a small bump called a “wheal”. There may be some redness (flare) around the wheal. These reactions will be compared to the areas pricked with saline and histamine solutions to determine the body’s response to allergens and the severity to which the body reacts. This test will inform you of certain substances you’re allergic to and allow your care provider to give you a personalized treatment plan.

Blood Testing

While in most cases, skin prick tests are enough to determine one’s allergies, blood testing may be the more appropriate test for some. Our team of expert allergists at Southwest Mississippi ENT will have to review your medical history, current health conditions, and allergy concerns to determine which allergy test will be best for you.

Your doctor may require a blood test instead if:

• You are on medication that affects your skin – this can yield inaccurate results during a skin test. In some cases, you may be asked to pause your medication for a short period to perform the test but this might not be safe in all cases so our team will have to utilize blood samples to determine how you react to certain substances.
• You have a certain skin condition, like psoriasis or eczema, that can make it difficult to get accurate results from skin tests. A blood test may be the better choice.
• You have severe allergic reactions. In this case, the typical skin testing may be unsafe and blood testing might be the safer alternative.

Intradermal Skin Testing

Some allergens don’t react during a regular skin test because they don’t show a reaction on the skin’s surface. These allergens might need to be introduced just below the skin’s surface to yield a reaction and get a proper diagnosis. This is where intradermal skin testing comes in. During an intradermal skin test, your doctor will use a tiny needle to inject a small amount of allergen just below the skin’s surface. The injection will cause some mild discomfort. Allergens that may require intradermal skin testing including penicillin (and other medication allergies) and insect venoms (like bees, wasps, and hornets). Intradermal skin testing is a safe and carefully monitored procedure conducted under professional supervision to ensure accuracy and patient well-being.