Allergy Immunotherapy

What is allergy testing?

Allergy testing at Wake Family Medicine consists of various diagnostic tests that determine which substances you’re allergic to. It’s the first step in the process of treating allergies caused by pollen, foods, medications, or other allergens and eliminating bothersome symptoms.

What are signs I may need allergy testing?

Signs and symptoms of allergies include:

• Itchy, watery eyes
• Rash or hives
• Swelling
• Difficulty breathing, especially during exercise
• Wheezing
• Itching
• Sneezing
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Chronic cough
• Sore throat
• Headaches
• Runny nose or nasal congestion
• Abdominal pain or cramping

See Dr. Kodumagulla if you suspect you or a loved one has allergies based on these or similar symptoms. 

What are the different types of allergy testing?

Allergy tests available at Wake Family Medicine include:

Intradermal skin test

During an intradermal skin test, Dr. Kodumagulla injects a tiny amount of potential allergens into your outer skin layer to test for allergic reactions to air irritants, insect stings, medications, and other irritating substances.

Skin prick tests

A skin prick test uses thin needles to prick your skin. Dr. Kodumagulla applies a small amount of possible allergens to the area and screens for signs of a reaction (raised bumps or a rash).

Blood tests

Blood tests analyze a sample of your blood to look for the presence of specific antibodies that indicate allergies.

Patch testing

Patch tests apply drops of potential allergens to your skin covered by a bandage (patch) for 48-96 hours to identify possible reactions. 

Oral challenge testing

During an oral challenge test, you’ll eat or drink a small amount of a suspected allergen under the supervision of Dr. Kodumagulla to screen for allergy symptoms. 

Dr. Kodumagulla determines which test is the most appropriate based on your symptoms and preferences. She tailors allergy testing to ensure highly accurate results. You might also complete asthma testing (breathing tests).

What do my allergy testing results mean?

Allergy testing could last 10 minutes for a blood test, 20-30 minutes for a skin prick test, a few hours during an oral challenge test, or several days of waiting for patch test results. 

Based on the outcome, Dr. Kodumagulla lets you know which allergens are causing your symptoms. Common culprits include: 

• Pollen
• Mold
• Pet dander
• Insect stings
• Medications
• Latex
• Foods (milk, soy, peanuts, etc.) 

Your individualized treatment plan might consist of allergen avoidance, oral allergy medications, nasal sprays, allergy immunotherapy, or carrying an epinephrine pen with you in case of a severe allergic reaction. 

Schedule allergy testing at Wake Family Medicine by phone or request a visit online today.