What are skin tests for allergy?
Skin tests are diagnostic tests used by physicians to assist in determining which allergens a person may react to. Using diluted extracts from specific allergens, the physician will prick, scratch, or inject the skin of the allergic person to determine the level of IgE antibodies. When the test is positive, a small red, raised area, called a wheal, will appear. The reddened area around the wheal is called a flare. The physician uses the information from the skin test to find the most appropriate treatment for each patient. This page was last updated on: February 6, 2008.
