Allergy Blood Tests: About These Tests
What are they?
Allergy blood tests look for substances (antibodies) in the blood that the body makes in response to allergens. Allergens are things that the body is allergic to.
There are several types of allergy blood tests, such as:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, EIA).
- Radioallergosorbent testing (RAST).
- Immunoassay capture test (ImmunoCAP, UniCAP, or Pharmacia CAP).
- Fluoro-allergosorbent testing (FAST).
- Multiple antigen simultaneous testing (MAST).
Why are these tests done?
Allergy blood tests are done to find out what things you are allergic to.
How are these tests done?
A health professional uses a needle to take a blood sample, usually from the arm.
What happens after these tests?
The results of allergy blood tests are usually available in about 7 days.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
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Current as of: April 7, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine & Rohit K Katial MD - Allergy and Immunology
