What is skin testing?
Allergy skin testing is performed to evaluate for environmental and food allergies. The initial test that is usually performed is skin prick testing. This is a relatively painless procedure in which the skin is pricked with mixtures containing different common allergens. For environmental allergens, we focus on triggers in the Northern Virginia and greater Washington DC area. We base food allergy testing on each individual’s history. After the tests are placed, the patient will wait for 15 minutes and then the test results will be read. For environmental allergies, if the patient tests negative on skin prick testing, the doctor will decide based on the history if a second level of testing would be helpful. This is called intradermal testing and involves placing a larger amount of allergens under the skin with small needles. This will always be discussed with the patient and family before being performed. Intradermal testing is not done for food allergies because of the higher risk of r
