Allergy Blood Tests: About These Tests
What are they?
Allergy blood tests look for substances in the blood. These are called antibodies. Your body makes them in response to allergens. Allergens are things that the body is allergic to.
There are many types of these blood tests. They include:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, EIA).
- Radioallergosorbent testing (RAST).
- Immunoassay capture test. (These include ImmunoCAP, UniCAP, and Pharmacia CAP.)
- Fluoro-allergosorbent testing (FAST).
- Multiple antigen simultaneous testing (MAST).
In Alberta, most allergy blood tests are either ImmunoCAP or UniCAP.
Why are these tests done?
These 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. It's most often done in the arm.
What happens after these tests?
The results of allergy blood tests can take between 2 and 21 days.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
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Adaptation Date: 08/19/2022
Adapted By: Alberta Health Services
Adaptation Reviewed By: Alberta Health Services
