What is the difference between RAST testing and skin testing? Is one more beneficial than the other?
“RAST” testing is a term that is often used to describe blood test for allergy (although most currently used blood tests for allergy are no longer truly a RAST test); while skin testing involves plastic needles that are used to prick the skin of the patient. Skin testing is cheaper and more accurate than “RAST” testing, but occasionally, as in the case of a complicating skin disease or the lack of patient access to an allergist, “RAST” testing is sometimes a reasonable alternative. RAST stands for ‘radio-allergosorbent test’ and measures the amount of IgE anitibody in the blood—the antibody involved in allergies. Due to improved laboratory techniques, the “radio-allergosorbent test” is no longer performed. The newer laboratory techniques more accurately measure allergy antibody levels than the old RAST testing. However, skin testing is still significantly cheaper and somewhat more accurate.
