Allergy Testing in Spring, Texas

If you suffer from allergies, one of the first steps you should take to find an effective treatment plan is allergy testing in Spring. The healthcare team at Texas ENT Specialists can provide these tests and will walk you through a process that makes you feel safe and fully informed as you navigate each step. The results of your allergy tests will help your doctor create a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs, so you can achieve the best possible results. Reach out to us today to test for environmental allergies, drug allergies, food allergies, and more.

Find your ENT Request Appointment

The Allergy Testing Process

The accuracy of your test results is, of course, essential, which is why we start off this process with a control test to ensure your skin’s response is appropriate. Generally, abnormal responses are caused by remnants of medication in a patient’s body. If you pass the control test, you will be injected with allergens along your arms, and wait for its results. The process can take up to 2 hours to complete.

Preparing for Your Allergy Tests

To ensure you are fully prepared for your allergy test, you will have to stop taking any beta blockers you may be using for at least a week before testing. Your safety is important, so please consult with the prescribing physician about temporarily stopping these medications or switching to a different class of medications until after you finish your allergy tests. Otherwise, allergy testing cannot be correctly performed.

Which Conditions Will Allergy Testing Detect?

Allergy symptoms caused by pollen
Allergy symptoms caused by dust mites
Allergy symptoms caused by other environmental factors

The Benefits of Allergy Testing

You will have an understanding of your specific allergens
The process is not time-consuming
The answers you receive from testing will improve your life

The Allergy Testing Timeline at Texas ENT Specialists in Spring

1 Week Before Testing

Before your allergy testing appointment, our support staff will email you with a list of medications you should stop taking, including over-the-counter medications, inhaled medications, and herbal supplements. It is also crucial that you talk to us about any respiratory illnesses or respiratory complaints you may have had in the past.

1 Day Before Testing

We need to properly observe your skin for reactions after the injections are administered, so if you have substantial hair on your arms, you should shave it about 12 hours before your appointment. Shaving can cause skin irritation, so we strongly advise you against shaving on the morning of your appointment. If you do not have hair on your arms, you do not need to shave these areas for testing.

The Day of The Test

Avoid drinking beverages that contain caffeine
Take a shower before your appointment
Do not spray any scented products on you
Do not smoke for four hours before your appointment

Testing is not a lengthy process and only requires about a couple of hours to finish. Much of the time needed for this test to be performed will be spent waiting for the reactions after the injections are administered. Therefore, we recommend you bring something entertaining to pass the time, such as a book or an electronic tablet.

We need easy access to your arms, so keep that in mind as you get dressed for your appointment. Wear something that is either short-sleeved or has loose sleeves. In some cases, patients cannot be tested on their arms, which means they will have to wear a pair of loose shorts that can expose their upper thighs.

If this appointment is for your child and they are either very young or have small arms, have them wear a pair of loose shorts.

We do not want to put your health at risk throughout this process, which is why we first require that you perform a pulmonary lung function test. If you are aware of any lung conditions you may have, such as asthma, or if you use inhaled medications, please let us know.