Blood Testing

For individuals who cannot undergo skin testing but are still experiencing allergic symptoms to environmental triggers, they may undergo allergy blood testing instead. This test involves drawing blood to determine levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to certain substances in the blood. IgE antibodies are produced by the immune system in response to typically harmless substances, such as dust or pollen.
Blood tests can be used to screen for a variety of allergy triggers, including:

• Tree pollen (such as ash, mountain cedar, American elm, elm, maple, live oak, and pecan)
• Grass pollen (such as Bermuda and Timothy grass)
• Weed pollen (such as ragweed)
• Pet dander
• Cockroach particles
• Dust mites
• Molds
• Certain foods (such as peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, dairy, fish, shellfish, wheat, and soy)
• Vespids (biting and stinging insects such as wasps, bees, hornets, yellow jackets, fire ants, and mosquitos)

Generally, allergy skin tests are preferred to determine an individual’s allergic triggers because skin tests are more sensitive than blood tests. This increased sensitivity allows better overall detection of allergies that a blood test may miss. However, in some cases, a doctor may recommend a blood test over a skin test if:

• The patient is an infant or very young child.
• The patient has a pre-existing health condition that requires medication(s) that may interfere with skin test results.
• The patient has a severe skin condition that may interfere with skin test results.
• The patient has a history of anaphylaxis or poorly controlled asthma that may be triggered during a skin test.

Depending on the results of your test, your allergy specialist may recommend different treatment options and suggest a prevention plan to alleviate allergic symptoms. At Frontier Allergy Asthma and Immunology, our experienced allergy specialist will work with you to create a treatment plan unique to you.

Next steps

If you are interested in further discussion about your specific needs, Dr. Reshamwala is happy to see you and answer any questions you may have. Please call (512) 535-2655 or email clinic@frontierallergist.com to schedule an appointment today! Book an appointment