Talk to me about allergy testing

[LuxPerpetua]

My dd was mildly sensitive to soy and dairy until she was 18 months old but both of these are fine now (she is 27 months old). I have no idea if she has an allergy to either fish or nuts and am concerned about letting her try these foods until I have her tested by an allergist. What can you tell me about allergy testing? Does your primary physician have to refer you or can you just schedule an appt. with an allergist without a referral? What's the testing like, and how traumatic do you think it would be (I'm considering waiting until she's 3-3.5, because right now she is very sensitive about doctors examining her)? Is it a blood test or one of those where they scratch the allergen onto your skin and see if you react? Is there anything else I should know?

Thanks!

[kjbrown92]

It would depend on your insurance whether you need a referral or not. I chose an allergist who did subdermal testing, because I read that it was more accurate than scratch testing. My DD was 21 months at the time, and she did better than my son, who was almost 7yo!! For the subdermal testing, they use a needle and inject the skin with the substance. And then they do a little more, and then a little more. So it takes a while. My DD was tested for 12 things, so that's 36 little "shots". The scratch test, which my other DD had, for environmental allergens, was just a little scratch with each substance. Then there's the RAST, where they draw blood and test it.

When you say your DD was "mildly allergic" to milk and soy, and is fine now. How was that tested? Or was it just observation?

[LuxPerpetua]

Thank you for replying.

She was dx with a dairy/soy sensitivity by our pediatrician after a month of green poop (sorry!) and bloody streaks in her stools. So, yes, observation only.