INTRADERMAL SKIN TESTING

There are several tests available for determining whether a person has an allergy. Blood tests and three different skin tests are all options. Intradermal skin testing is one type of skin test that may be used when a person tests negative for an allergy using other methods, but the doctor still believes the patient has a specific allergy. They are also used to test for allergies to substances like bee venom, penicillin, and medications. While a skin prick test merely scratches the skin, an intradermal skin test goes deeper by injecting the allergen into the skin and can produce more reliable results. While false negatives are rare with skin tests, false positives are more common and often require additional testing.

P.S. If you have been taking antihistamines for your suspected allergies, you may need to discontinue their use a few days prior to an allergy test.

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