Question

Name the two tests generally used to diagnose allergy and describe any one of them.

Answer 1

1. Prick Test: Skin prick test is also known as “puncture testing” or “prick testing” due to the series of tiny punctures or pricks made into the patients' skin. A small plastic or metal device is used to puncture or prick the skin. Sometimes, the allergens are injected intradermally into the patients' skin, with a needle and syringe. Small amounts of suspended allergens or their extracts (e.g., pollen grain, insect sting proteins, peanut extracts) are introduced to sites on the skin marked with pen or dye. Common areas for testing include the inside of the forearm and the back.
2. Blood Testing: A sample of the patient’s blood is sent to a laboratory for analysis. Multiple allergens can be detected with a single blood sample.
   The test measures the concentration of specific antibodies in the blood. The quantitative allergy blood result can help determine what a patient is allergic to, help predict and follow the disease development, estimate the risk of a severe reaction, and explain cross-reactivity.