just wanted to say that my ds"s rast test came back totally clear: said he has no allergies or sensitivities whatsoever yet everytime he ingests any type of dairy he has such severe apnea that i have to stay up to keep him breathing just my two cents

 

Both the boys' tests came back o.k., but both obviously react to dairy and soy, and for a while AJ reacted to eggs. Dr called it sensitivities too and said he'll outgrow them. I'm planning a soy challenge maybe in a month and then milk around his birthday? Hives can be a stress response, but that doesn't mean it's not something else triggering it. If it is food though, that's serious. Have you ever kept a food/reaction diary? Keep him away from anythging that obviously bothers him and keep the diary to see if there's more you're missing.

 

Every test has its limits, but I think the RAST is fairly accurate in dxing IgE-mediated allergies. However, there are allergies--real allergies, not sensitivities or intolerances--that are not IgE-mediated. There is no conclusive way to dx those allergies except via reaction. And, unfortunately, those reactions tend to be more delayed than those caused by IgE-mediated allergies. Additionally, many of the symptoms are not "classic" allergy symptoms and are frequently dismissed by drs.

There is an IgG test, but it is not reliable and, really, the allergies that are sometimes referred to as IgG-mediated allergies, aren't. It's more involved than just IgG, so the test is usually useless.

Missy

 

I had a RAST test when I was a teenager...
It annoyed me to no end that so many foods I KNEW made me sick weren't on there, but a ton of things I ate all the time were...I knew I didn't have 'allergies' like hives and stuff, but I still expected some sort of confirmation that I was getting sick from food!
I know now why it didn't, and I know you know the difference....but be prepared for it to potentially not show things that you, as a mom, know are going on in your babe's body.

btw, it came back saying I have a SEVERE allergy to raw peanuts....
never had a problem with them in my life.
EVER.

Nuts are probably the one thing that don't give me agita (well that is what we always called it...really talking about stomach cramps, diarrhea, headaches, etc...)

So...in short.....
I found the test to be a relative waste of time and money...
but that was back umm 15 years ago or so
maybe its better these days?

 

dd's has had mutiple RASTS and all were neg but yet she tests pos on skin pricks to stuff we've seen severe reactions to. I've had RAST done on myself and the only thing it ever showed was a rye allergy. Totally missed peanuts which I am severely allergic to as well as several other foods. I dont do RAST anymore, doesn't work for us.

 

Reaction trumps test results regardless of how accurate a test is supposed to be.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by LizaBear Reaction trumps test results regardless of how accurate a test is supposed to be.

Tell that to my dd's GI

Jerk wouldn't believe me till she finally tested positive on skin prick to EVERYTHING (cept peanuts, go figure) I'd been saying she's allergic to for 3 friggin years. He stopped fighting us after that and has been a cooperative Dr since. Its like he got a personality transplant or something