Food allergy tests are sought when symptoms such as sneezing, swelling, rash, abdominal pain, diarrhea or other symptoms are thought to have been triggered by particular foods or ingredients. According to a July 20, 2009 Los Angeles Times article "Think you have food allergies," only about 25 percent of people who claim to have food allergies actually have them. Proper allergy testing can help improve wellness and prevent restriction of certain foods to which you might not actually be allergic.
Blood Tests
Blood tests are commonly used to identify allergies. According to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, (UIHC) the body produces antibodies in response to allergens. Blood tests, such as the radioallergosorbent, or RAST, test measure the amount of antibodies present in the bloodstream. Antibodies will not appear if an allergen hasn't been consumed, so the test may either be conducted during an allergic reaction or after a small amount of the potential allergen has been inserted into the bloodstream.
Skin Tests
Skin allergy tests involve minute portions of potential allergens inserted beneath the surface of the skin. According to UIHC, an allergic reaction such as swelling, redness or itchiness of the skin will appear where the allergen sample was inserted, if you are indeed allergic. Reactions are not likely to be severe, due to the microscopic amount of allergens utilized. Since false positives can occur in most types of allergy testing, multiple tests, a review of one's medical history and physical examination are often involved as well. If you are being tested for food allergies, you may wish to request multiple tests for most accurate findings.
Elimination Diets
Elimination diets are used to determine food allergies and intolerances, which are less severe than allergies. According to UICH, potential allergens are restricted from the diet during an elimination diet, until symptoms dissipate. If symptoms do dissolve, a food allergy is likely. If symptoms persist, they may be indicative of alternate health problems or allergens. If several foods or ingredients are eliminated during the test and it is unclear which is the culprit, foods may be reintroduced to the diet gradually, one at a time, to determine which food triggers symptoms.
Though elimination diets do not require medical equipment or procedures, guidance and supervision from a qualified medical or dietary professional is recommended to ensure safety and effectiveness. If you feel you may have be experiencing adverse reactions to a particular food or ingredient, seek testing promptly as allergies are known to cause severe reactions.
