Allergy testing can tell us what allergens trigger allergies within our bodies. Twenty-five percent of us suffer from hay fever, asthma, and skin allergies. About five percent of us are allergic to some foods. Knowing what triggers hay fever, asthma, and allergic skin disorders can help us to live symptom free.

Allergies can be identified by using skin tests, blood tests, and food elimination diets. Skin testing is easy, and is the most common type of testing used. For this test, many kinds of likely allergens are placed just under the skin. If a red, swollen welt forms within 20 minutes, the test is positive and indicates the presence of the allergy.

Food allergy testing may include blood and skin tests. An elimination diet requires restriction of certain foods on the basis of a person's history, foods known to be common causes of allergy, and foods which were positive on a skin test. This reduced diet is followed until all allergic symptoms resolve. After the symptoms cease, foods may be added back to the diet, one at a time. During this time, symptoms may recur. The patient then knows which foods to avoid in the future, and which foods are safe to eat.

Allergy testing is the best way to find what causes allergic symptoms.

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