Allergy test questions

ArcticFox

Sorry if this stuff has been asked before..

My DD touched her mouth to peanut butter and her lips blew up, so we took her to the hospital and the meds they gave her worked great.  The next step is of course the allergist.

What is the first appt generally like?  I called two places, one said they do testing the first appt, the other said they don't.

What are the allergy tests like?  And do they do a blood test?

My DD is 20 months, I'm worried that they won't let me hold her or be there or something.

And how long do the allergy tests usually take?  I thought I read something about having to wait a couple hours to see the reaction.  I'll have my 4 year old with us, unless it is a situation I should get a sitter for her.

Thanks so much ladies!

magdusia

here is a recent post about this.. just in case you want to read more.

sorry to hear about the allergy. 

First they will either do a pricking or scratch test and have you wait 20 minutes to see if she's allergic. Most likely they will test her for the top 8 allergies (milk, soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, fish, shell fish).  and then they might send her for blood work to test her for some other popular allergens (sesame has been a common one also).

After that you will have to avoid avoid avoid.  But for now, i would make your house a peanut free and learn to read ingredients.

I have never heard of it taking hours. but the entire appointment can take hours.  from the time you walk in to the time you leave it can be a long time. 

aniceucchik

We got the blood test at the pedi office and then made the appt at the allergist. Jacob was 10m old and they did the skin test on his back. I was able to hold him down so they could do the test and we just had to wait there like 20 minutes so they could get the readings. GL to you-I would ask for the whole 8 to be tested just to make sure.

tnd81

We got the order to do the blood test from the pedi. then took those results to an allergist. That appt was a couple hours. They did the prick test on her back with a bunch of different common allergies then did her 3 food allergies (from the blood work - peanut, dairy & egg) all one at a time to monitor reaction so that's what took the longest. I held her while they did it and she was fine.