Allergy

Standard allergy testing relies on identifying the IgE antibody specific for the allergen in question. Two classic methods of doing this are the immediate wheal-and-flare skin prick tests (a small amount of antigen is introduced into the skin and evaluated at 15 minutes for the presence of an immediate wheal-and-flare reaction) and in vitro testing. Allergy testing that does not have a clear scientific basis includes cytotoxic testing, provocation-neutralization testing or treatment, and "yeast allergy" testing. Allergy-related conditions such as asthma, chronic rhinitis, urticaria and angioedema, anaphylaxis, food allergy, stinging insect allergy, and drug allergy are reviewed.