'What is food allergy testing? A food allergy is a condition that causes your immune system to treat a normally harmless type of food as if was a dangerous virus, bacteria, or other infectious agent. The immune system response to a food allergy ranges from mild rashes to abdominal pain to a life-threatening complication called anaphylactic shock. Food allergies are more common in children than adults, affecting about 5 percent of children in the United States. Many children outgrow their allergies as they get older. Almost 90 percent of all food allergies are caused by the following foods: Milk Soy Wheat Eggs Tree nuts (including almonds, walnuts, pecans, and cashews) Fish Shellfish Peanuts For some people, even the tiniest amount of the allergy-causing food can trigger life-threatening symptoms. Of the foods listed above, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, and fish usually cause the most serious allergic reactions. Food allergy testing can find out whether you or your child has a food allergy. If a food allergy is suspected, your primary care provider or your child\'s provider will probably refer you to an allergist. An allergist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating allergies and asthma. Other names: IgE test, oral challenge test What is it used for? Food allergy testing is used to find out if you or your child has an allergy to a specific food. It may also be used to find out whether you have a true allergy or, instead, a sensitivity to a food. Food sensitivity, also called food intolerance, is often confused with a food allergy. The two conditions can have similar symptoms, but complications can be very different. A food allergy is an immune system reaction that can affect organs throughout the body. It can cause dangerous health conditions. Food sensitivity is usually much less serious. If you have a food sensitivity, your body can\'t properly digest a certain food, or a food bothers your digestive system. Symptoms of food sensitivity are mostly limited to digestive problems such as abdominal pain, nausea, gas, and diarrhea. Common food sensitivities include: Lactose, a type of sugar found in dairy products. It may be confused with a milk allergy. MSG, an additive found in many foods Gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and other grains. It is sometimes confused with a wheat allergy. Gluten sensitivity and wheat allergies are also different from celiac disease. In celiac disease, your immune system damages your small intestine when you eat gluten. Some of the digestive symptoms can be similar, but celiac disease is not a food sensitivity or a food allergy. Why do I need food allergy testing? You or your child may need food allergy testing if you have certain risk factors and/or symptoms. Risk factors for food allergies include having: A family history of food allergies Other food allergies Other types of allergies, such as hay fever or eczema Asthma Symptoms of food allergies usually affect one or more of the following parts of the body: Skin. Skin symptoms include hives, tingling, itching, and redness. In babies with food allergies, the first symptom is often a rash. Digestive system. Symptoms include abdominal pain, metallic taste in the mouth, and swelling and/or itching of the tongue. Respiratory system (includes your lungs, nose, and throat). Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, nasal congestion, trouble breathing, and tightness in the chest. Elimination diet. This is used to find which specific food or foods is causing the allergy. You\'ll start by eliminating all suspected foods from your child\'s or your diet. You will then add the foods back to the diet one at a time, looking for an allergic reaction. An elimination diet can\'t show whether your reaction is due to a food allergy or a food sensitivity. An elimination diet is not recommended for anyone at risk for a severe allergic reaction. Skin prick test. During this test, your allergist or other provider will place a small amount of the suspected food on the skin of your forearm or back. He or she will then prick the skin with a needle to allow a tiny amount of the food to get beneath the skin. If you get a red, itchy bump at the injection site, it usually means you are allergic to the food. Blood test. This test checks for substances called IgE antibodies in the blood. IgE antibodies are made in the immune system when you are exposed to an allergy-causing substance. During a blood test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.'
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