Walnut Creek, CA
A 23-year-old female asked:
I got tested for food allergies the rast method. is this as effective and sensitive as skin prick test to pick up?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A Verified Doctoranswered
Allergy and Immunology 14 years experience
Skin vs. RAST tests: Overall skin testing is slightly more sensitive than RAST testing, especially for indoor/outdoor allergens. If your food RASTs are all negative it is unlikely that a skin test will give you any further information. I use skin testing as original diagnostic test then use serum testing to follow food allergies over time. Clinical history must be taken into account, these tests can be inaccurate.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Related questions
A female asked:
Are skin prick tests accurate for food allergies?
Dr. Gerald Leeanswered
Allergy and Immunology 19 years experience
Yes, for ruling out: Skin prick testing is used to see if you might be at risk of developing hives or anaphylaxis after eating a food. If a skin test is negative, it is u... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
View all answers
A 23-year-old female asked:
How accurate is skin prick testing for food allergies? According to the test, Im allergic to many things. Ive never had a problem eating them though, aside from occasional discomfort with digestion. I take Zantac, could that have affected results?
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 48 years experience
Zantac not issue: There are e basic tests of food allergy/intolerance. A blood test that looks at antibodies to foods (helps identify dangerous items). The pin prick th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
188 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 54-year-old male asked:
I've heard that skin tests are better and more effective for food allergy testing than blood tests. If I use HealthTap, how can skin tests be done?
Dr. M. Hytham Beckanswered
Surgery 45 years experience
See actual doctor: health tap could not help when A physical doctor visit become necessary. Allergy test is one of them. So the best way is to see allergy specialist in ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
My allergy skin prick test said I'm allergic to Western Wheat Grass, does that include wheat based foods? I get cramps and bloating from bread/pasta
A Verified Doctoranswered
Internal Medicine 38 years experience
Different stuff: the allergy is to the pollen. the food is due to the protein in the wheat. they aren't the same at all.
Could bread have pollen in it? sure. Honey wou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Recently, I did a blood and skin allergy test. positive for tree nuts, tomatoes for food and ragweed, birch etc. I've eating pizza, raw tomatoes and nuts my whole life without problem? body just itched randomly every few months so I tested. allergy?
Dr. Amrita Dosanjhanswered
Pediatric Allergy and Asthma 38 years experience
Virtual consultation: You may upload your lab results during an inbox consultation with Healthtap. Your itching may or may not be related to these particular foods. Usually... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
88 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Sep 24, 2015
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