Food and environmental allergy testing

A skin-prick test places tiny amounts of suspected allergens on the skin, while a blood test checks for allergen-specific immune markers. Environmental panels may include house dust mites, pollens, moulds or animal proteins; food panels focus on items linked to a particular reaction. A positive result can show sensitisation, but it does not by itself prove that eating or breathing the trigger causes symptoms. A negative result can make an immediate allergy less likely, although it may not explain every delayed or non-allergic reaction.

Your clinician interprets the result alongside timing, symptoms, portion or exposure, medicines and other conditions. Testing a very broad list without a clear history can create confusing results and unnecessary food avoidance.

Write down what you ate or were exposed to, how quickly symptoms began, which body areas were affected, and what helped. Bring the list to the appointment. Ask whether medicines such as antihistamines need to be paused; do not stop prescribed treatment without instructions. Do not deliberately re-expose yourself to a food that caused breathing trouble, faintness or widespread swelling. Depending on the history, your clinician may recommend focused testing, supervised challenge, or another explanation for symptoms.

After a suspected exposure, seek emergency help for trouble breathing, throat or tongue swelling, repeated vomiting, collapse, confusion, or rapidly spreading hives. These can be signs of anaphylaxis and need immediate treatment. A test appointment is not a substitute for an emergency plan. Recurrent nasal or eye symptoms may fit allergic rhinitis or allergic conjunctivitis, while wheeze may need assessment for asthma.

Which trigger should we test first, and why? Could my medicines alter the result? Does this result change what I eat or how I manage dust, pets or pollen? Do I need a written emergency plan or referral to an allergy specialist?