Allergy and asthma testing for kids and adults

What allergy testing can tell you

Allergy testing shows whether your immune system has made allergic antibodies, called IgE, to a specific trigger. That matters because plenty of problems look like allergies and are not. Real allergies can also hide behind vague symptoms, like a stuffy nose that never clears or a cough that lingers after every cold.

A positive test is not a diagnosis on its own. Many people are sensitized to something that never bothers them. Your allergist reads each result against your history, so you avoid only what you truly need to avoid and don’t give up foods or pets for no reason.

Testing also helps rule things out. If results are negative, your provider can look at other causes, such as nonallergic rhinitis, reflux, virus-triggered wheezing or skin irritation, so you are not left guessing.

The tests we use

We choose tests based on your symptoms, not a one-size-fits-all checklist. A toddler with eczema and a possible egg reaction needs a different workup than an adult whose spring allergies have turned into wheezing.

• Skin prick testing: tiny amounts of pollen, mold, dust mite, animal, food or venom extract are pricked into the skin of the back or forearm. Positive results appear as small raised bumps within 15 to 20 minutes.
• Intradermal testing: a small amount of extract is placed just under the skin when prick results are unclear, most often for environmental allergens and insect venom.
• Blood testing: measures specific IgE to individual allergens. Component testing looks at the exact proteins inside a food such as peanut, which can help separate true risk from cross-reactivity.
• Patch testing: allergens are taped to the back and read at 48 hours and again at 72 to 96 hours to find triggers of contact dermatitis, such as metals, fragrances or preservatives.
• Spirometry and FeNO: quick breathing tests that measure how well air moves out of your lungs and how much allergic-type inflammation is in your airways.
• Oral food challenge: the gold standard for diagnosing food allergy. You or your child eat gradually larger amounts of a food in our clinic while our team watches closely.

May be a good fit if…

• You sneeze, sniffle or have itchy eyes for weeks at a time and want to know why
• Your asthma flares with certain seasons, pets or places
• Your child has eczema that keeps coming back despite good skin care
• You had a reaction after eating and need to know which foods are safe
• You react to stings, jewelry, fragrances or skin products
• You are considering allergy shots, sublingual drops or oral immunotherapy

Testing that works for kids

Skin prick testing uses small plastic applicators that only touch the top layer of skin. Most kids describe it as a few quick scratches, followed by some itching that fades within an hour or so. We work fast and keep the mood light.

A parent stays in the room the whole time. Bring a tablet, a favorite book or a comfort toy, and tell us ahead of time if doctor visits make your child anxious. Our staff speak English, Spanish and Arabic, so everyone in the family can ask questions comfortably.

What happens after your results

Before you leave, your provider explains what the results mean in plain words. Next steps might include a pollen-season plan, ways to cut dust mite exposure at home, an asthma action plan, or a referral to our Food Allergy Center.

If allergic rhinitis or allergic asthma is not controlled by medicines, we will talk through allergy shots and sublingual drops. When a food result is borderline, an oral food challenge can settle the question. You also get a written summary to share with your pediatrician, school nurse or primary care doctor.

Skin testing is offered at all three of our clinics in Arlington, Keller and Mansfield. Patch testing and food challenges may need a separate visit. Spirometry and FeNO can be repeated at follow-ups to show whether asthma treatment is working.

Testing and North Texas allergy seasons

In DFW, something is pollinating almost every month of the year. Testing tells you which seasons are yours, so you can start medicines before symptoms hit instead of chasing them.

Many people react in more than one season, and some feel worse in the fall than in spring. Matching your results to this calendar helps us time your medicines and, if you choose immunotherapy, cover the pollens that bother you most.

• Mountain cedar: December through February
• Trees such as oak, ash and pecan: February through May
• Grasses such as Bermuda and Johnson grass: April through September
• Ragweed and other weeds: August through November
• Mold, dust mites and pet dander: all year long

What to expect, step by step

1. Book and share your history

   Call or request a visit online, then fill out a short form about symptoms, past reactions and current medicines. This helps us plan the right tests in advance.

2. Check your medicines

   About a week before, review the prep list below. Antihistamine pills are the main thing to pause because they can block skin test results.

3. Consultation and exam

   Your provider reviews your history, examines you and decides which tests make sense. Breathing tests are often done at this point.

4. Testing in the clinic

   Skin prick testing takes a few minutes to place and about 15 to 20 minutes to read. Blood draws, patch tests or a food challenge may be scheduled separately.

5. Review and plan

   You go over every result with your provider and leave with a written plan for avoidance, medicines and treatment options.

Before your visit

• Stop oral antihistamines 5 to 7 days before skin testing unless your provider tells you otherwise.
• Keep taking your asthma controller inhalers and other daily medicines as usual.
• Some acid reducers, sleep aids and antidepressants can also affect skin tests, so send us your medicine list and never stop a prescription without asking us first.
• Wear a loose short-sleeved shirt and skip lotion on your back and arms the day of the visit.
• Plan for 60 to 90 minutes, and bring photos of past rashes or reactions plus labels from any suspect foods or products.

Safety

Skin testing is very safe. The most common side effect is itching and redness at the test sites, which usually fades within a few hours. Serious reactions are rare. Oral food challenges carry more risk, which is why we do them only in the clinic, with trained staff watching closely and emergency medicines ready at all times.