Allergy Tests Flashcards

1
Q

Food allergy: Tests

A
  • 1st line: Skin prick test
  • 2nd line: RAST (Radioallergosorbent test)
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2
Q

Pollen allergy: Tests

A
  • 1st line: Skin prick test
  • 2nd line: RAST (Radioallergosorbent test)
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3
Q

Wasp/bee venom allergy: Tests

A
  • 1st line: Skin prick test
  • 2nd line: RAST (Radioallergosorbent test)
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4
Q

Contact dermatitis: Tests

A

Skin patch testing

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5
Q

Peanut allergy: Tests

A
  • 1st line: Skin prick test
  • 2nd line: RAST (Radioallergosorbent test)
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6
Q

Latex allergy: Tests

A
  • 1st line: Skin prick test
  • 2nd line: RAST (Radioallergosorbent test)
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7
Q

Interpretation time of different allergy tests

A
  • Skin prick test: 15minutes
  • RAST: Few days to 2weeks
  • Skin patch test: 48hours
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8
Q

What is highly specific and strong predictor in case of food allergy?

A

Wheal size

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9
Q

Why is RAST used as 2nd line for allergy (food, peanut, bee venom, wasp, pollen, latex)?

A

Because, RAST can be negative sometimes

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10
Q

When can RAST be used as 1st line for allergy (food, peanut, bee venom, wasp, pollen, latex)?

A

When skin prick test is NOT suitable:

  • Extensive eczema
  • the patient is taking anti-histamines
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11
Q

Why don’t we do skin prick test if patient is taking anti-histamine?

A

Chances of false negative

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12
Q

Why don’t we do skin prick test if patient has extensive eczema on skin?

A
  • Chances of false positive
  • Less amount of skin to be pricked
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13
Q

Irritants of any kind: Tests

A

Skin patch test

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14
Q

Skin patch test: amoung of allergens to be placed

A

Around 30-40 allergens

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15
Q

Most commonly used allergy test

A

Skin prick test

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16
Q

Why is skin prick test most commonly used?

A
  • Easy to perform
  • Inexpensive
17
Q

Skin prick test: procedure/steps

A
  • Drops of diluted allergen are placed on the skin >>> after which, skin is pierced using a needle
  • Normally contains histamine (positive) control and sterile water (negative) control
  • Results are interpreted after 15mins
  • If wheals develop >>> positive skin prick test (presense of allergy)
  • (A large number of allergen can be tested in one session)
18
Q

RAST (radioallergosorbent): Procedure/steps

A
  • Determine a suspected allergen (known allergen) e.g. IgE to egg protein
  • Blood test to know the amount of IgE that reacts specifically to that allergen
  • Grade “Amount of IgE” in 0 to 6
  • Interpretation: 0 = negative; 6 = strongly positive
19
Q

Skin patch test: Procedure/steps

A

Around 30-40 allergens or irritants are placed on the back >>> after 48huors, a dermatologist interpret the result

20
Q

Wheal size is interpreted in- ?

Amount to specified IgE in blood is interpreted in- ?

A
  • Wheal size is interpreted in Skin prick test
  • Amount of IgE is interpreted in RAST (radioallergosorbent test)