In each of our metro Atlanta office locations, the board-certified allergy
specialists at the Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia provide a
variety of
allergy tests for our Atlanta patients. Allergy testing at our medical offices include:
Skin scratch/prick test
Our board-certified allergy specialists apply a small amount of a potential
allergen to the skin, and uses a special tool to
prick the skin. An allergic reaction typically develops within 20 minutes.
Patch skin test
During the patch skin test, our allergy specialists apply a potential allergen
to a patch on the skin of the back. This test is commonly used to determine
the cause of contact dermatitis.
Intradermal skin test
The
intradermal skin test requires one of our board-certified allergists to inject a small
amount of a potential allergen just below the skin.
Blood test
An allergy blood test at the Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia requires
our allergists to draw blood and test the amount of antibodies present
in the bloodstream at the introduction of certain allergens or medications.
Lung function tests
Lung function, or pulmonary function, tests include spirometry and methacholine challenge,
which primarily tests for asthma.
What Is The Best Allergy Testing Method?
Although each patient is different, most prefer skin tests, such as the
scratch/prick test. Typically, this method of allergy testing provides
faster results, and costs less than allergy blood tests.
Since some medicines can interfere with the results of skin prick tests,
make sure that you provide your allergist with a comprehensive list of
any medications that you may be using before the test is conducted.
Some patients prefer allergy blood tests because they only involve a single
needle prick, and there is little to no risk of medications interfering
with the results.
Each allergy testing methods comes with its own set of pros and cons; to
determine which method is right for you, schedule a consultation with
one of our Atlanta allergists.
Allergy Testing in Atlanta with Board-Certified Allergy Specialists
Our board-certified
allergy specialists at the Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia perform allergy testing
for Atlanta patients to determine allergic triggers. Our treatment options
vary depending on the type of allergy and its severity.