Allergy Testing Instructions
 
 

Patients are referred to the allergy department by SWENT physicians. Upon referral for testing, your insurance benefits are checked and then an appointment is scheduled. Please allow 1 - 1 ½ hours for this appointment.  Please read the attached pre-testing instructions. You MUST follow these instructions. If you have questions, please call the allergy department.

 

The standard allergens to be tested are grass pollen, tree pollen, weed pollen, cat and dog dander, dust mites, chicken/duck/goose feathers and molds.  Food testing is not included in this skin testing procedure. 

 

If immunotherapy (allergy shots) is indicated, you will need weekly (5 – 8 days between injections) appointments to receive your injection(s). You must stay in the allergy department 20 -30 minutes after receiving your injections. Once your maintenance dose is reached, (approximately 6 months after starting therapy) you may qualify to receive your injections at home.  You will receive weekly injections for approximately 1 ½ years, then every 2 weeks for 1 year and then every 3 weeks for 1 year.  Most patients will stay on immunotherapy for three to five years.  The rule of thumb is to stay on the shots until your symptoms have been controlled or minimized for two consecutive allergy seasons.

 

If you choose to start allergy shots, your treatment will begin approximately 2 weeks after approval by your SWENT physician.

 

PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION FOR ALLERGY TESTING

Your physician has recommended allergy testing to determine what individual allergens are contributing to your illness. The SWENT Allergy Department uses Modified Quantitative Testing (MQT) to determine the specific allergen(s) that may be causing your reactions. Testing will take approximately one hour. An appointment with your referring physician may be required due to untimely cancellations or no shows of your appointments in the allergy department.

 

IMPORTANT MEDICAL ISSUES THAT MUST BE REVIEWED PRIOR TO TESTING 

  • Pregnancy:  If you are pregnant or contemplating pregnancy during the next six months, you may not wish to proceed with testing. Allergy shots are safe when a pregnant woman has consistently been receiving allergy shots for six months or more before becoming pregnant.
  • Disorders of the Immune System: Skin testing or immunotherapy for allergic disorders places variable degrees of stress on the immune system and may adversely effect the health of some patients with disorders of the immune system. Please discuss any concerns with your physician.
  • Beta Blocker Medications:  Beta Blockers are a commonly prescribed medication for hypertension, glaucoma, heart disease and migraine prophylaxis. Use of these medications may be contraindicated with allergy testing and treatment. You may not be on any type of Beta Blocker medication during skin testing or immunotherapy injections. DO NOT DISCONTINUE THIS MEDICATION ON YOUR OWN. Your prescribing physician must approve any discontinuation of this medication.
  • Do not receive any immunization/vaccine within 5 days of testing (flu shot, tetanus, hepatitis, etc).

SEVEN (7) FULL DAYS PRIOR TO TESTING:

  • Do not take any antihistamines or medications that have an antihistamine effect. This includes prescribed and over the counter medications. Read all labels look for words such as “antihistamine” or “drying effect”. This also includes antihistamine eye drops. (see attached list)
  • Do not take anti-depressants that have antihistamine-like qualities (tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines - see attached list). Please check with your prescribing physician prior to discontinuing these medications.
  • Do not take any Vitamin C supplements (multi-vitamin with C, EmergenC, etc.)

THREE (3) FULL DAYS PRIOR TO TESTING:

  • Do not eat any foods containing Vitamin C (see attached list)
  • No Beta Blockers (make sure you have discussed this with the prescribing physician as well as your SWENT physician)

DAY OF TESTING:

  • The allergy department is a “scent-free” environment. Please do not wear ANY scent (perfume, cologne, hair spray, lotions, after shave, etc.).
  • Please turn off your cell phone.
  • Wear a loose short sleeve or sleeveless shirt. Testing will be done on both arms (shoulder to wrist).
  • Be sure to eat breakfast/lunch prior to testing. A full stomach can help reduce the stress of testing.
  • If you have ASTHMA, you must bring your prescribed inhaler with you. Do not stop taking your asthma medication.
  • Please do not bring your children to your testing session; we do not have the facilities or staff to monitor them.
  • If you are driven to your appointment, please have your driver wait until the first step in allergy testing is completed to be sure that all of your tests can be performed. This will be determined within the first 20 minutes of your appointment.
  • A parent must be present throughout testing for minors.

THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES OF MEDICATIONS MUST BE

STOPPED SEVEN (7) FULL DAYS PRIOR TO TESTING

ANTIDEPRESSANTS

Adapin              Atarax               Ativan               Elavil (amitriptylline)

Mellaril              Valium              Vistaril               Xanax

 

ANTIHISTAMINES

(READ ALL LABELS FOR ANY OVER THE COUNTER COLD OR ALLERGY MEDICATIONS, LOOK FOR WORDS SUCH AS “ANTIHISTAMINE” OR “DRYING EFFECT”)

Actifed                   Benadryl                  Allegra/Allegra-D                   Chlortrimeton

Claritin/Claritin-D    Clarinex/Clarinex-D   Contac/Dimetapp                   Fexofenadine

Loratidine               Naldecon                  Optivar eye drops                 Patanol eye drops

Pataday eyedrops  Rutuss                      Rynatan                               Semprex-D

Tavist I/Tavist D     Triaminic                  Trinalin                                  Tylenol PM

Zyrtec/Zyrtec-D      Xyzal

 

MISCELLANEOUS

Antivert (Meclazine)                Botanical (herbal) formulas              Chinese Herbs

Dramamine                            Flexeril                                         Homeopathic drops

Periactin                                Phenergan

 VITAMIN C CONTAINING FOOD MUST BE AVOIDED THREE (3) FULL DAYS PRIOR TO TESTING

READ ALL PACKAGE LABELS---DO NOT RELY COMPLETELY ON THIS LIST

Rule of thumb: avoid all fruits and vegetables

Apples              Asparagus               Avocado             Banana                    Basil

Beets                Blueberries              Broccoli              Brussel Sprouts        Cabbage

Cantaloupe        Carrots(raw)            Cauliflower          Cayenne Pepper       Celery (raw)

Chard               Chili Peppers (red and green)          Cloves (ground)        Collard Greens

Corn                 Cranberries            Cucumber            Fennel Bulb              Grapefruit

Grapes              Green Snap            Kale                    Kiwi Fruit                 Leeks

Lemons             Liver (calf)               Mushrooms         Mustard Greens       Onions (raw)

Oranges            Oregano                  Papaya               Parsley                   Pear

Pineapple          Plum                       Potato                Raspberries             Bell Peppers

Romaine Lettuce                               Spinach              Squash                    String Beans

Strawberries       Sweet Potato          Tomato                Turnips                     Watermelon

Tomato Ketchup                               Tomato Juice       Tomato Sauce          Tomato Paste

 

****THIS LIST INCLUDES ALL OF THESE FOODS IN ANY FORM, TOMATO INCLUDES JUICE, SAUCE(S), PASTE, KETCHUP, ETC.

 

Examples of foods you may eat: Fish, Beef, Chicken, Pork, Eggs, Tofu, Rice, Oatmeal, Peanut Butter, Cheese

 

IF YOU ARE UNCERTAIN ABOUT TAKING ANY PARTICULAR MEDICATION(S) OR FEEL YOU CANNOT STOP YOUR MEDICATION(S) PRIOR TO YOUR TESTING APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CONTACT THE ALLERGY DEPARTMENT NURSES AT 982-0354 



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