Email a friend
Print articleAllergies health centre
Allergies: Blood testing for allergies
Blood tests are sometimes performed to find out what triggers an allergic reaction and are often used if a patient has a skin condition or is taking medications, such as antihistamines. Such medications can interfere with an allergy skin test, which is a common test used to identify allergy triggers, but in general do not interfere with allergy blood tests.
The radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test are two types of blood analyses used to diagnose allergies. In both, a small amount of blood is taken from the allergy sufferer and analyzed for immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, which are produced in response to allergens. High levels of these antibodies in the blood usually indicate an allergy..
If you have a milk allergy, strictly avoiding milk and food containing milk and milk products is the only way to prevent a reaction, which can include immediate wheezing, vomiting and hives. It is not always easy to avoid these foods because many unsuspecting products contain milk or milk products. Some people confuse food allergies with food intolerance. Someone with intolerance to milk may have symptoms such as bloating, abdominal cramps, flatulence, diarrhoea or constipation. Always check...
Read the Living with a milk allergy article > >
These blood tests may not be as effective as skin testing and tend to be more expensive. However, they can be useful in situations where the cause of allergies is unclear.
WebMD Medical Reference
WebMD Video: Now Playing
Health information from our sponsors/advertorials
©2009-2012 WebMD UK Limited and Boots UK Limited. All rights reserved.
BootsWebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.