Your Allergy Visit
Pediatric patients are seen at UR Medicine's ambulatory care facility for an allergy consultation.
601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642
Allergy Evaluation
Your provider will start the evaluation of your condition by inquiring about your complete medical, surgical and allergy history. Based on your history, allergy testing may be ordered.
Allergy Testing
Skin Tests
The skin test measures IgE antibody response to certain allergens or triggers. Using small amounts of solutions that contain different allergens, your child's nurse will apply the allergens on the skin with a small scratch. A reaction would appear as a small red area. A reaction to the skin test indicates sensitization only and does not always mean your child is allergic to the allergen. Skin testing may not be done on children who have severe eczema or are on antihistamines.
Blood Tests
Blood tests for allergies measure IgE antibodies to specific allergens in the blood. The blood test most commonly used is called RAST (radioallergosorbent test). Blood tests may be used when skin tests can't be done. As with skin testing, it is important to remember that a positive blood test does not always mean your child is allergic to that allergen.
Challenge Test
A test supervised by an allergist who administers a very small amount of an allergen that is inhaled or taken orally.
Pulmonary Function Tests
In office spirometry and fractionated exhaled nitric oxide are used to evaluate asthma and other respiratory conditions.