Allergy Testing
Barrington, Highland Park & Beyond
Stop Guessing. Start Knowing. Comprehensive Allergy Testing That Delivers Real Answers.
Our board-certified allergists use the most accurate diagnostic tools available to identify exactly what is triggering your symptoms — often on your very first visit.
Most patients who come for allergy testing are already aware that they have allergies. They may have been exhibiting signs or experiencing symptoms for some time. However, many people are surprised to discover just how many allergies they do have. Addressing multiple causes of allergies through medical care and lifestyle changes can bring significant improvement in suffering.
There are several methods of diagnosing allergies. Some require special preparation on your part, such as abstaining from allergy medications for a short period prior to the test. Your doctor or nurse will give you the instructions you need.
Skin
testing
for allergies
The prick or scratch test is still a reliable standard for allergy testing. This type of test is useful for diagnosing allergies to airborne substances, which cause symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, coughing, and itchy eyes.
During a skin test, a technician applies a small amount of an allergen to your skin with a plastic instrument. The tested allergens typically include animals, plants, foods and environmental allergens such as mold and mildew. Within 15 minutes, if the skin becomes raised, the reaction will be further investigated to confirm an allergy.
Penicillin testing
Penicillins are a widely used antibiotic for treating bacterial infections and the label “allergy” is commonly attached in childhood vs “adverse reaction” or the illness itself contributing to or confused with allergy. Today, 10% of the population reports a penicillin allergy but less than 1% of the whole population is truly allergic. For those with a true allergy to penicillin, over 90% will lose this allergic response over a 10 year period. Overall, penicillins are the safest and most effective antibiotics for many infections, and therefore it is important to find out if a patient is really penicillin allergic
Blood testing for allergies
Blood testing is more costly than skin testing and typically recommended when skin testing (prick or intradermal) cannot be performed. This includes patients with severe skin conditions, such as severe eczema or psoriasis, or those unable to discontinue medications that interfere with skin test results.
Blood testing is used to confirm suspected food allergies based on clinical symptoms, when symptoms are present, particularly if the patient cannot stop taking medications.
Lung function tests
Our doctors will monitor asthma and respiratory health using a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)
Asthma is defined by variable airflow obstruction, meaning the obstruction can change over time. In some cases, especially in long- standing or severe asthma, the obstruction can become fixed due to airway remodeling. On a PFT, asthma is identified by a reduced FEV1/FVC ratio, indicating that the volume of air exhaled in the first second is significantly lower than the total amount of air forcefully exhaled. This obstruction is often reversible with bronchodilator medication. PFTs, specifically spirometry, remain a vital tool for both diagnosing asthma by identifying reversible airflow obstruction and monitoring the effectiveness of prescribed medications.
Diagnostic imaging
An x-ray or CT scan of the head (sinuses) or chest (lungs) can help to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of allergies or asthma. If your allergist orders such images, they will be taken at a hospital or standalone imaging center. You and your doctor will then discuss the results at a follow-up appointment.
Medically supervised allergy tests are safe and go a long way toward getting long-term relief. If you have specific questions about allergy testing, your doctor or nurse will be happy to answer them during your appointment.
Our team is ready to see you.
Call us to schedule your allergy evaluation at our Barrington or Highland Park office — new patients are always welcome.