We are able to test for a wide variety of allergens, chemicals, medications/drugs and foods you may be allergic to. The majority of our testing is done without needles, and most of our testing is done the same day of your initial visit - a nice convenience for you. Most of our allergy testing is done on your back with results read in as little as 20 minutes.
(OIT) Oral Immunotherapy or Food Allergy Oral Desensitization
We are one of the first local allergy clinics to offer food allergy desensitization for the treatment of food allergy. Food Allergy Oral Desensitization
Pulmonary or Lung Function Testing
By using a state of the art pulmonary function machine we are able to diagnose and manage most lung disorders like asthma and COPD. This painless procedure is easy to perform and provides results in as little as one minute. This tool helps us objectively ensure you are responding to your therapy.
CT Radiography (Cat-Scan)
We are able to painlessly obtain a CT or “CAT - SCAN” of your sinuses in as little as 10 seconds. Our physicians are able to review your results with you within one minute of having the test - saving you time and the expense of having to go to an outside Xray facility. Even more importantly, by offering point of care diagnostics, we are able to provide you with a proper diagnosis and treatment plan by the time you leave the office. Also, our CT scanner is safe - a 10 second CT scan of your sinuses will emit about the same amount of radiation as a standard Chest X-Ray. For more information about our CT scanners click here
Patch Testing
This method of allergy testing allows us to diagnose conditions that are very common like chemical allergy, delayed type food allergy and some drug allergy conditions. By placing small sample sized amounts of the allergen in question on the back, we are able to determine if you are allergic to a host of different substances. This virtually painless test is typically not performed by dermatologist’s anymore because of time and expense but we continue to offer this diagnostic tool to help our patients that suffer from chemical and some types of food allergy.
Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots)
We are one of the first clinics in the area that offers three modes of administration - Standard, Cluster and Rush build up protocols. All three methods offer different ways to build-up on your allergy shots in a very timely fashion. All of our shots are given by skilled nurses that are dedicated to your comfort. Allergy shots provide excellent results - typically 70-90% of patients will find that their health is improved while on a course of immunotherapy. Some of the biggest benefits of being on immunotherapy are the improvement in your quality of life, a decrease in the frequency of infection, improved asthma control and reduced need for medications in the management of your allergies.
Food Allergy Testing and Oral Challenges
History is very important in making a diagnosis of food allergy. Your physician will want to know what foods may have triggered reactions, what the symptoms were, how long it took for the reaction to occur after eating the food, and how long the reactions lasted. He or she may also want to know what medications were used to treat the reaction and whether they helped. The physician will also want to know if the reaction occurs every time a food is consumed.
Once the history has been reviewed, your physician may use blood tests or skin tests to confirm whether you have a food allergy. Because these types of tests can sometimes have false results, they must always be interpreted with the patient’s history in mind. When considering which type of test to perform, your doctor will consider the age of the patient, the medications the patient has taken recently, and previous test results. In some cases the physician may perform an oral challenge in the office to confirm or exclude a diagnosis. An oral challenge consists of a series of increasing doses of a food in an effort to provoke a reaction
Drug Allergy Testing
There are many types of adverse reactions to medications. A detailed history will sometimes allow your physician to make a diagnosis of a drug allergy, but in many cases confirmatory testing is needed.
Skin testing can be performed with some medications that are available in liquid form. A positive skin test may confirm a drug allergy. When skin testing is not available or does not provide the expected result, your physician may perform an oral challenge to the medication. An oral challenge is performed in the office by giving small, but increasing doses of the medication in question and observing for signs of a reaction.
Exercise Challenges
There are a number of respiratory conditions that worsen with exercise. Exercise challenges facilitate the differentiation of exercise-induced asthma from other respiratory diseases. During an exercise challenge, vital signs are carefully monitored and changes in lung function are evaluated using breathing tests. If vocal cord dysfunction is a concern, patients may also undergo limited endoscopy.
Immunodeficiency Evaluation
Children with recurrent infections or a history of serious infections may need to be evaluated for immune problems. There are many types of immune deficiency diseases. The type of infections may often yield clues as to what part of the immune system may be functioning abnormally.
Based on the type of infections your physician may perform tests to check antibody levels. This process often includes a single vaccination that tests the immune system’s ability to make antibodies appropriately. In other cases, your physician may perform testing to check the number and function of different types of white cells, including neutrophils and lymphocytes. These white cells protect us from specific types of infections.