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Allergy Testing

Allergies can occur to anyone, anytime. Allergies can affect our daily activities and reduce our quality of lives.
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Table of Contents

What Are Allergies?

Allergies can occur to anyone, anytime. Allergies can affect our daily activities and reduce our quality of lives.

Allergies occur when the body’s immune system reacts to a usual harmless substance (known as an allergen). Allergen normally do not cause any issues in most people, however, in allergic individuals, the body’s immune system identifies the allergen as a threat and mount an inappropriate response to it. This is known as an allergic reaction.

More About Allergies

What are the Common Types of Allergies?

Allergies can occur in numerous types, affecting various parts of the body. Types of allergies include skin allergy, food allergy, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, eye allergy, insect stings allergies, latex allergy, pet allergies, and drug allergies.

Are Allergies in the Genes?

You may notice someone in your family has allergies too. Allergies can be hereditary. Allergies are more common in people with an atopy background, with a positive family and personal history of allergic rhinitis, eczema, and or asthma. Though allergies are more common in children, it can happen at any age. Allergies can resolve over time, and recur many years later.

Common Signs & Symptoms

Itchy red swelling in the
Mouth, Lips or Eyes
Rashes, Hives, Eczema on the
skin
Sneezing, Itchy Runny Nose,
Cough, Wheezing or even
Breathlessness
Nausea, Vomiting, Abdominal
Pain, Cramps or Diarrhoea
In Severe Conditions such as Anaphylaxis:
Acute difficulty in Breathing,
or Wheezing
Throat, Lip, Mouth or Eyes
Swelling
Rashes
Rashes Drop in Blood Pressure
You should seek medical assistance immediately in such a dire situation, and it is advisable to carry emergency adrenaline pen for standby use.

Diagnosis & Treatments

DB Medical offers a myriad of comprehensive allergy service, tailored to your individual needs and concerns.

Ofen, identifying and avoiding offending allergens that cause allergic symptoms are effective. Having said that, there are times when allergens are unavoidable as part and parcel of our lives. The use of medical therapies and having an emergency action plan for severe allergic reactions are important. 

Medications that are useful against allergies include antihistamines, decongestions, and corticosteroids. These medications are used to alleviate allergic symptoms.

Immunotherapy is a preventive strategy for certain types of allergies. It works by allowing your body to be acclimatized and de-sensitized towards an allergy. This is performed by gradual introduction of allergic substances in an increasing dose into a person via oral, sublingual (under-tongue tablets or spray) or injection shots. Immunotherapy is particularly useful in allergies against dust mites, certain insect stings allergies, grass pollens.

Type of Allergy Tests

Speak to your doctor about your individual concerns and allergy conditions. Your doctor will discuss in detail with you the pros and cons of each test before providing further advice.

Skin Prick Test

A simple and accurate way to detect allergies. The test involves introducing allergens into the skin and observing for any red bumps or swelling.

Tests for

Dust Mites, Mold, Animal Dander

How it’s conducted

Performed in a closely monitored clinic, are well-tolerated with minimal
discomfort and rare severe reactions.

Is This Test Suitable for Me?

This test is not recommended for individuals with a history of anaphylaxis to specific allergens, severe inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis affecting most skin areas, and those taking oral antihistamines who cannot discontinue use prior to the test.

Get your results in 20 - 30 minutes.

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Blood Allergy RAST Test

A trained doctor or phlebotomist performs the RAST blood test to detect specific IgE antibodies against allergens. RAST blood tests can test a wide range of allergen panels.

Tests for

Food & Air-borne Allergens

How it’s conducted

Afer consulting with their doctor, a blood sample is taken and tested in a lab for antibodies to specific allergens.

Is This Test Suitable for Me?

This test is not recommended for individuals with factors that can impact skin prick test results, such as medications that cannot be stopped, severe skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, and a high risk of severe allergic reactions during testing.

Get your results in 1 - 2 weeks.

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Allergy Tests

Skin Prick Tests
Inhalant Skin Prick TestFood Skin Prick Test
Aspergillus FumigatusShrimp
Alternaria AlternataCrab
Blomia TropicalisTuna
Bermuda GrassSalmon
D. FarinaeChicken
D. PteronyssinusEgg
Penicillium NotatumCow’s Milk
Cat DanderCocoa
Dog DanderWheat Flour
Cockroach (American)Soya Flour
Cockroach (German)Almond
RagweedPeanut
Allergy Blood Tests
Inhalant PanelMold PanelEczema PanelPaediatricSeafood PanelShellfish PanelNuts PanelAsthma PanelGastro Panel
Blomia TropicalisAspergillus FumigatusShrimpShrimpShrimpBlue MusselAlmondBlomia TropicalisChicken
Aspergillus FumigatusAlternaria AlternataFish (Cod)Fish (Cod)CrabClamBrazil NutCat DanderCow’s Milk
Alternaria AlternataCandida AlbicansChickenAnchovies (Ikan Bilis)ClamCrabHazel NutDog DanderEgg White
GreerCladosporium HerbarumEgg WhiteChickenFish (Cod)LobsterMacadamia NutD. FarinaePeanut
D. FarinaePencillium NotatumCow’s MilkCow’s MilkAnchovies (Ikan Bilis)OysterPeanutD. PteronyssinusSoya Bean
D. Pteronyssinus PeanutYeastSalmonScallopPine NutChickenWheat
Curvularia Lunata Soya BeanEgg WhiteTunaShrimpPistachioCow’s MilkGluten
Cat Dander HazelnutCocoaSquidSquidWalnutEgg White 
Dog Dander D. PeteronyssinusWheat   Peanut 
Cockroach (German)  Rice   Soya Bean 
Common Ragweed  Gluten   Wheat 
Bermuda Grass  Corn     
Timothy Grass  Peanut     
Johnson Grass  Sesame Seed     
Bahia Grass  Soya Bean     
Comprehensive Allergy Screening

Almond

Beef

Cockroach, American

Dog Dander

Hazel Nut

Pea

Shrimp (Pacific)

Alternaria Alternata

Bermuda Grass

Cockroach, German

Egg

Johnson Grass

Peach

Soya Bean

Apple

Cashew Nut

Coconut

Fish (Cod)

Kiwi

Peanut

Squid

Aspergillus Fumigatus

Cat Dander

Cow’s Milk

Garlic

Maize Flour

Pork

Timothy Grass

Avocado

Celery

Crab

Gluten

Mustard Seed

Rice

Tomato

Baker’s Yeast

Chicken

D. Farinae

Goat’s Milk

Onion

Salmon

Tuna

Banana

Cladosporium Herbarium

D. Pteronyssinus

Hamster Epithelium

Oyster

Sesame

Wheat Flour

Afterword

Remember, allergy testing does not diagnose allergies. It should be interpreted prudently together with one’s medical condition and symptoms, and to aid diagnosing allergy.

FAQ

Do I Need to Stop my Allergy Medicine or other Long Term Medicine for Allergy Testing?

Some allergic medications (such as antihistamine- piriton, cetirizine, loratadine etc) can affect skin prick test results. Long term medications such as antidepressants may interfere the results as well. Please inform your doctor on all the medications that you are consuming.

How Accurate and Reliable is Allergy Testing?

When Skin Prick Test is performed correctly, it is relatively reliable. However, you may have a negative skin prick test, yet develop allergy later on in life. This is known as a false negative. There are a few explanations:

  • Your body may develop a new allergy over time due to repetitive exposure to the allergens.
  • You may be consuming certain medications that lead to a false-negative result.
  • Physician variability- Skin prick test is performed by doctors who are human with invariably slight deviation in their methods and skills.

RAST Blood Test has the edge of having a test result that is not interfered by medicine that the person is taking. However, there is a chance of false positive (A positive test, yet, the patient has no allergy symptoms when exposed to the allergen). This may cause unnecessary confusion and anxiety to patients.

How Often Should I Consider Allergy Testing?
It varies individually, depending on new onset of allergy symptoms and possible associated new allergen triggers.
Is Allergy Testing Covered by my Insurance?
You will need to check with your insurance company.

Related Articles

Drug Allergy

The same medication may not cause any reaction to a person, yet may cause unforeseen allergic reactions to another person.

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November 16, 2020

Allergy Immunotherapy

Allergy Immunotherapy modifies a person’s body immune response towards allergens, hence easing allergy symptoms.

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October 20, 2020

Anaphylaxis: All I Need to Know

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis are important. This can be life-saving.

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October 20, 2020

Related Services

Wood Lamp Skin/ Hair Screening

Checking the skin or nail lesion with wood lamp involves shining a hand-held wood lamp device on the area of concern by your physician.

Cryotherapy Services

Cryotherapy or colloquially known as ‘cold therapy’ is a procedure that uses liquid nitrogen to deliver freezing cold temperature locally to destroy and remove abnormal skin lesion.

Electrocautery

Electrocautery is a bedside procedure where your doctor will use an ‘electric pen’ to deliver high frequency electric current onto the skin to generate heat in order to stop bleeding or remove abnormal skin cells

Steroid Injections

A steroid injection is simple bedside procedure where your doctor will inject minute amount of steroid onto the skin.

Skin cancer screening/Mole check

Skin cancer screening is usually performed by your physician using a dermatoscope. Dermatoscope is a medical magnifying glass that allows your physician to visualize the size and shape of the mole that you are concerned of.

Skin Scrape Test (Fungal Scrape Test)

Fungal scrape and bacterial culture tests allow physician to confirm or debunk fungal/bacterial diagnosis of skin condition

Skin Tag Removal

Skin tags are benign. They are also known as acrochordons medically. They are small, soft overgrowth of the skin commonly located among the face, eyelids neck, armpit, groin, breasts and buttock folds.

Excision Biopsy

An excision biopsy is a bedside procedure where your doctor uses a surgical blade to remove the entire skin lesion under the use of local anaesthesia.

Shave Biopsy

A shave biopsy a bedside procedure where your doctor uses a surgical superficial shaving blade to remove the skin lesion under the use of local anaesthesia.

Skin biopsy /Punch biopsy

A skin biopsy, or punch biopsy, is a bedside surgical procedure where your physician will use a small knife ‘puncher’ to obtain a small skin sample under local anaesthesia.

Shingles

Herpes zoster, commonly referred to as shingles, is a painful blistering rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus— the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic Dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory condition of the skin. It is categorized as a type of chronic eczema, affecting the body area that has more sebaceous glands. characterized by red, greasy scaly patches.

Skin Fungal Infection

Living in a hot humid climate of Singapore, fungal infection of the skin is common. The fungus thrives and favors body areas that are moist and warm such as the armpit, breast folds, groin, buttocks, feet, toes or even nails.

Eczema

Eczema is a common inflammation condition of the skin. Although eczema can occur any time in one’s life, it typically starts presenting when one is a child.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition. It is a common skin disease that can affect 1 in 50 people.

Hives

Nearly 20% of people will get hives at some point in their lifetime. While they may not be life-threatening, hives can potentially cause both physical and emotional issues, particularly if they occur frequently.

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