Allergy Testing

Allergy Testing services offered in Alpharetta, GA

Allergies cause a wide range of symptoms and affect more than 50 million people in the United States. At Alpha Medical Clinic in Alpharetta, Georgia, board-certified physicians Dhiraj Patel, MD, and Neil Patel, MD, perform allergy testing. Finding the allergen causing your symptoms helps direct treatment so you can feel better. Call the office or schedule your allergy testing online today.

What is allergy testing?

Allergy testing identifies substances that trigger an allergic reaction. Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to a substance it considers harmful to you, even though it’s harmless to most other people.

When you come in contact with this substance, your immune system sends out chemicals that cause an allergic reaction like itchy eyes, scratchy throat, or hives. You can have an allergy to almost any substance, but most allergies are triggered by:

Grass, ragweed, or pollen
Mold
Pet dander
Food (cow’s milk, wheat, soy, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts)
Medications
Stinging insects

If you suspect you have an allergy, schedule allergy testing at Alpha Medical Clinic today.

Who needs allergy testing?

Anyone experiencing allergy symptoms needs allergy testing. The type of symptoms you have depend on the allergen causing your reaction. Common allergy symptoms include:

Headaches
Itchy, watery eyes
Stuffy or runny nose
Chronic cough
Shortness of breath or wheezing
Hives
Vomiting or diarrhea

Some people develop a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis when they come in contact with their allergen. This type of reaction causes difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and requires emergency medical care.

What happens during allergy testing?

The team at Alpha Medical Clinic explains the details of your allergy testing at your initial visit.

Blood allergy testing

Blood allergy testing involves taking a sample of blood for lab testing. At the lab, the technician administers different allergens to small samples of blood and measures immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody levels. High IgE levels indicate an allergy.

The team at Alpha Medical Clinic uses the information they get from your allergy testing to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms.

What happens after allergy testing?

Your provider at Alpha Medical Clinic talks with you about the results of your allergy testing. Treatment includes avoiding your allergen whenever possible. However, if you have environmental allergens (like pollen or ragweed), they recommend allergy medication to control symptoms.

They may also prescribe an epinephrine injection if you have severe allergic reactions.

Call Alpha Medical Clinic or schedule allergy testing online today.