Food Allergies Specialist

When is food allergy testing recommended?

Food allergy testing is recommended for children and adults who display symptoms of an allergic reaction after ingesting certain types of food. Symptoms of food allergies can be mild, such as watery eyes or a red flush to the cheeks, while other food allergies can produce potentially life-threatening anaphylactic shock. Other food allergy symptoms include:

• Tingling or itching in the mouth
• Hives, itching, or eczema
• Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, or throat
• Wheezing, nasal congestion, or trouble breathing
• Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting

No matter if your allergies are mild or severe, Dr. Bernard and Dr. Chan take a strategic and personalized approach to food allergy testing in order to protect your health and prevent potentially dangerous or uncomfortable side effects after ingesting certain foods.

What are common types of food allergies?

Most food allergies in children and adults are triggered by different types of proteins found in food. Common food allergies can come from:

• Shellfish, including lobster, crab, and shrimp
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts, including walnuts and pecans
• Fish
• Eggs
• Dairy
• Wheat
• Soy

There’s also a condition called oral allergy syndrome in which certain fruits, vegetables, and nuts can trigger an allergic reaction due to cross-reactivity. This condition is common among people with a hay fever allergy.

How is food allergy testing performed?

Dr. Bernard and Dr. Chan may recommend one of the following types of tests, depending on the severity of your allergy symptoms:

Scratch (prick) testing

This is the most common type of allergy test in which the skin is scratched or pricked and an allergenic solution is placed on the scratched skin. If you’re allergic to a certain type of food, you’ll have a local reaction to the scratch site on your body, such as redness, itching, or hives.

Blood testing

Blood testing can also be used when there’s a serious risk of anaphylaxis from ingesting the food or performing the scratch test. A small sample of blood is taken from your arm to be tested to allergy markers to specific foods.

Ingestion challenge

This test involves eating small portions of a certain food over several hours under your doctor’s supervision to assess your individual allergy symptoms.

The skilled and compassionate Allergy and Clinical Immunology Medical Group team use the least invasive allergy testing possible to determine the cause of your food allergies.

Find out what’s causing your food allergies by scheduling testing at Allergy and Clinical Immunology Medical Group now — simply call or click to book an appointment.