nutch_noindex
Search Icon
    Menu Button
    Stanford Children's Health
    DonateContactMyChart LoginFind a Doctor
    • Second Opinion
    • Donate
    • Contact
    • Refer a Patient
    • En Español
    • Our Locations
    • Medical Services
    • About Us
    • Research & Innovation
    • Patients & Visitors
    • For Health Professionals
    • Second Opinion
    • Donate
    • En Español
    • MyChart Login
    • Recently Visited
      • Our Locations
      • Medical Services
      • About Us
      • Research & Innovation
      • Patients & Visitors
      • For Health Professionals
      CANCEL
      • View More Results

      Loading...

      COVID-2019 Alert

      Information about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. Read the latest >

      Información sobre el coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Aprenda más >

      /nutch_noindex

       


      Diagnostic Tests for Allergy in Children

      These tests will help you and your child's healthcare provider or allergist know what substances cause your child's allergy symptoms. Knowing what substances cause the symptoms tells you what your child should stay away from. It also tells the provider what treatments might reduce symptoms. Diagnostic tests for allergy may include:

      • Skin tests. These tests measure your child's level of IgE antibody response to certain allergens or triggers. They use small amounts of solutions that contain different allergens. The healthcare provider may give your child a shot (injection) of the solution under the skin. Or the provider may apply the allergens with a small scratch. A reaction would appear as a small red area. A reaction to the skin test does not always mean your child is allergic to the allergen that caused the reaction. This will be determined by your child's provider. Skin testing may not be done on children who have had a severe life-threatening reaction to an allergen. Or children who have severe dry skin (eczema).

      • Blood tests. These tests measure IgE antibodies to certain allergens in the blood. The blood test most often used is called RAST (radioallergosorbent test). Or a newer blood test called an ELISA ( enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) may be done. Blood tests may be used when skin tests can't be done. As with skin testing, a positive blood test does not always mean your child is allergic to that allergen.

      • Challenge test. This test is supervised by an allergist. He or she gives your child a very small amount of an allergen. It may be breathed in (inhaled) or taken by mouth (oral).

      • Nasal smears. These tests check the amount of eosinophils in the nose. An eosinophil is a type of white blood cell that increases in number during an allergic reaction.

      Related Topics

      • Neurological Exam for Children
      • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
      nutch_noindex
      • About Us
      • Contact
      • MyChart Login
      • Careers
      • Blog
      • Refer a Patient
      • Download from App Store Download From Google Play
      • Notice of Nondiscrimination
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Code of Conduct

      © 2021 Stanford Children's Health

      About

      • About Us
      • Our Hospital
      • Patient Stories
      • Blog
      • News
      • Send a Greeting Card
      • New Hospital
      • Careers

      Connect

      • Donate
      • Refer a Patient
      • Contact Us
      • Pay Your Bill

      Find

      • Doctors
      • Locations
      • Services
      • Classes
      Download from App Store Download From Google Play

      Also Find Us on:

      • facebook
      • twitter
      • youtube
      • linkedin
      US News & World Report Badge
      • Stanford Medicine
      • Stanford University
      • Stanford Health Care
      • Lucile Packard Foundation
      • Notice of Nondiscrimination
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Code of Conduct
      • © 2021 Stanford Children's Health
      /nutch_noindex