Allergy Testing and Treatments

Inhalant Allergy Testing

The methods used at this clinic for testing allergic responses to inhalants such as dust, molds, pollens and dander is called Serial Dilution Endpoint Titration (SDET) and probably different from allergy testing you have had in the past. SDET is an accurate and quantitative method of skin testing used to precisely diagnose environmental allergies. Scratch and prick tests are not quantitative. SDET testing and interpretation techniques are well standardized, while this is not the case with other forms of skin testing. SDET testing allows a safe and effective starting dose to begin desensitization, which can be determined quickly and individually for each allergen tested. This is not possible with single dilution tests such as scratch, prick and the usual intradermal tests.Food Allergy Testing

Testing for Food Allergies

Provocative Neutralization testing is the method we employ for evaluating food sensitivities. During this procedure, carefully produced skin wheals are made for each food tested. The whealing response normally correlates well with the presence or absence of sensitivity to that food. Rather than just evaluating wheal response, the patient's symptom are observed and recorded throughout the testing. Provoking symptoms is not required, but frequently occurs in this form of testing. One food is tested at a time rather than a whole group of them at once in order to be more precise in the diagnosis of food sensitivities. The symptoms that are produced during testing are usually mild and rarely severe.

Since foods are tested one at a time, this type of allergy testing takes longer than scratch, prick or previous forms of intradermal allergy testing. This technique of allergy testing also becomes a form of therapy. During this test procedure, a "neutralization dose" is also determined. The neutralization dose alleviates or "neutralizes" the symptoms caused by the allergic food.

Testing procedures are done in an environmentally controlled testing area. Food and chemicals are tested in a blind fashion i.e. the patient will not be told what he or she is being tested for. This is done to decrease any psychological influence on the allergy testing. The environmentally controlled unit helps decrease exposure to external allergens such as dust, pollens, and chemicals.

Treating Environmental and Food Allergies

The most effective treatment for allergies is avoidance of what causes them. This may include dust control, "detoxifying" your home environment from chemicals and eliminating specific foods from your diet. This will be covered in more detail and other parts of this web site.

Both the SDET and Provocative Neutralization testing procedures allow us to determine the optimum dose to begin desensitizing one to the substances to which they are allergic. You can elect to desensitization using weekly injections administered at our clinic. Or you can choose sublingual desensitization. The appropriate antigens are placed into a vial so they can be administered sublingually.

Sublingual extracts are administered daily. Most people get relief of their symptoms within three to four weeks of starting them and sometimes sooner. Some patients take longer to get relief because of the severity other symptoms. Occasionally a person takes up to three or four months to notice a lessening of their symptoms. Most patients need to take one drop daily of each of their extracts. However, it is not uncommon for patients to have to increase the dose up to two drops three times daily, if they don't start to get relief within a month. Do not increase the dose of the antigens without talking to Dr. Buscher or a member of the allergy testing staff first.

After you have been on the desensitization vaccines for six to eight weeks, you should make an appointment to se Dr. Buscher for follow-up. If your symptoms have not lessened by that time, then by all means, be sure to make an appointment to see Dr. Buscher, as there may be other problems complicating your situation.

Normally the desensitization process allows patients to eat all the foods to which they are allergic. We recommend, however, that patients go on a rotation diet so that they are not ingesting the same foods on a daily basis. If you continue to eat the allergic foods on a daily basis, you may need to increase the frequency of your allergy extract. Again, if there are any questions, talk to the allergy testing technician or make an appointment to see Dr. Buscher.

Links for further information:
Dr. Rapp Website