If you or your child have recently had an allergy test, you may be wondering how to read the results. Let’s discuss potential result outputs, what they mean and what to do next.
Types of Allergy Tests
There are two types of allergy tests that we perform at Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery: skin prick and blood test.
A skin prick test tests your body’s reaction to various allergens by placing a small amount of allergen just under the surface of the skin. You’ll receive your results immediately, and you’ll be able to notice the visible reaction (e.g., swelling, redness, itchiness) at the site of exposure.
A blood test doesn’t expose you to the allergen; rather, it takes a blood sample and measures how much of a specific kind of allergen-specific antibody is present in the sample. It may take a few days to receive results from a blood test as the sample must be sent to a lab.
Interpreting Test Results
For each allergen that is being tested, you’ll receive a positive or negative result.
What a Positive Result Indicates
Each allergen tested will have its own result. A positive result for a specific allergen means you are allergic to that allergen. If it was a skin prick test, you’d probably have an inkling of this positive result due to the reaction on the skin.
Blood test results will also show the level of sensitivity, measured in kU/L (kilo Units per liter). The higher the kU/L, the higher the sensitivity to that particular allergen. 0.0 ku/L means no sensitivity.
Note that false positives are possible.
What a Negative Result Indicates
A negative result for a given allergen means that you are not sensitive to that allergen.
What Next?
Getting the results from your allergy test will provide clarity. It can be a huge relief to identify what substance has been causing your annoying allergy symptoms. It’s much easier to avoid your allergy triggers if you know what it is that triggers your allergies in the first place.
Next, it’s time to discuss allergy management and treatment. We recommend discussing your results with your allergist and creating a personalized wellness plan that is customized to your allergies. We at Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery are here with you every step of the way. Call us today to learn more.
Learn More
“Dr. Strand is wonderful. In fact, all the staff are just the best. Personable, and to the point. You will be well cared for at Willamette ENT.”