According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), allergies are ranked 6th as the leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S., with more than 50 million Americans suffering each year. Its prevalence continues to rise, with more and more people having hypersensitive responses to allergens and needing medical treatment.
To identify which allergens a person may be allergic to, getting an allergy test here at Progressive Urgent Care – Modesto helps in determining an allergic reaction as well as promoting better allergy management. Performed by a trained allergy specialist in our medical clinic in Modesto, California, an allergy test can be in the form of a blood or skin test.
- Skin Test
A thin needle is pricked onto the skin on the forearm or back with 10 to 50 different potential allergens. It is used to identify numerous potential allergens that include airborne allergies, food-related, and contact allergens. Scratch, intradermal, and patch tests are among the types of skin tests often conducted in a health care clinic.
- Blood Test
A blood sample is tested in a laboratory for the presence and level of immunoglobulin E (IgE) or the antibody that fights specific allergens. Often, a blood test is recommended when a person is taking a medicine that could affect or interfere with the results of a skin test.
Once a diagnosis is done, prescription of allergy medications, treatment, and even immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots are recommended to manage allergies. When allergic reactions attack, visit our urgent care services in Modesto, California to receive immediate and quality allergy care.
For more details, our walk-in medical clinic in California is always open, including weekends and holidays.