Food Allergy Testing

Our center offers comprehensive testing with a team of nurses and medical professionals who have extensive experience working with children of all ages. The days of dozens of scary allergy tests being placed all at once are long gone. We will discuss options for testing with your family and decide what method is best for your child.

At the Food Allergy Treatment Center, we take time with every family to discuss how food allergy tests work, what they measure and how they are interpreted. We do not support unnecessary or excessive testing and understand both the downsides and benefits to using these tests.

Skin Prick Testing

Skin prick testing involves placing small drops of liquid allergen on the back or forearm, then gently scratching through the top layer to introduce the food allergen to allergy cells in the skin. This does not involve any needles or shots.

• If a food allergy is present, a small, localized, itchy bump and redness will develop.
• The results are available within 15 minutes. Our allergy experts will spend time reviewing what the results indicate and how to interpret them appropriately.

Blood Testing

Blood testing can also help diagnose food allergy or determine if a child with a known food allergy may develop tolerance over time. Our center offers on site laboratory testing so families do not need to drive to another location or make a separate appointment.

• The results from blood tests generally return in 2-4 days and a member of our team will always call to discuss.

Oral Food Challenge

An oral food challenge is the most accurate test to determine if someone is allergic to certain foods. Our medical experts recognize the value in pursuing oral food challenges and have extensive experience with thousands of challenges conducted over the past 10 years.

Oral food challenges are useful to establish a diagnosis of food allergy when the history and/or testing are indeterminate and are also used to help confirm if tolerance has developed to a known food allergy. They are safe and very helpful to families, even if symptoms occur, as families learn that their child is truly allergic and also see what a reaction looks like, as well as how to properly treat. Our team of food allergy experts is always present and readily available for support throughout every challenge.

How Does an Oral Food Challenge Work?

• Members of the Food Allergy Treatment Center team will gradually feed a child measured amounts of the food that is suspected to cause an allergy.
• Allergy specialists will monitor the patient for any reactions that may occur over the next 3-4 hours.
• If the allergist sees an allergic reaction, they will treat accordingly. The team will then provide any prescriptions, education and support needed to make sure the patient and the patient’s family feel confident managing the allergy away from the clinic.

If no symptoms occur, then children can safely incorporate that food into their diet.