Can RAST tests be done in place of skin testing?
Many patients ask about RAST testing because it is “new”. RAST testing looks for a specific allergic protein in the blood, just as skin testing looks for the same type of protein in the skin. We think that skin testing is preferable because, in our experience, it can be more accurate than RAST testing from a commercial laboratory and because skin test results are available immediately. Many patients find it intriguing to be able to “see with their own eyes” just how allergic they are to each allergen tested.
