Allergy Prick Skin Testing

Make an Appointment

This information was reviewed and approved by Delana Bent, RN (5/1/2018).

You are being tested to: (Environmental, foods, stinging insects, PCN & Anesthetics)

Additional testing cannot be completed without provider approval PRIOR to your scheduled test. Please call your provider ahead of time if you have questions regarding additional testing.

 

What is allergy prick skin testing?

Your doctor has suggested you/your child have this test as part of the evaluation at National Jewish Health. Prick skin tests are done to help identify if you/your child are allergic and what you are allergic to.

 

How do you get ready for the test?

Please follow these directions when getting ready for this test. Check with your/your child's doctor before you stop the medicine. All antihistamines will effect the results of these tests and need to be stopped before the testing is completed. If the medicine is not stopped before the test we will not be able to get an accurate result.

  • Stop these antihistamines for the length of time listed before your appointment at National Jewish Health.

    • Stop these oral antihistamines for 5 days before your appointment:

      • Atarax®, Vistaril® (hydroxyzine)

      • Claritin® (Loratadine), Allegra® (fexofenadine) Clarinex® (desloratadine)

      • ChlorTrimeton® (chlorpheniramine)

      • Dimetapp® (brompheniramine)

      • Phenergan® (promethazine)

      • Tavist®, Antihist®, Dayhist® (clemastine)

      • Xyzal (levocetirizine)

      • Zyrtec® (cetirizine)

      • Combination medicines: Actifed®, Aller-Chlor®, Bromfed®, Drixoral®, Dura-tab®, Novafed-A®, Ornade®, Poly-Histine-D®, Trinalin®

  • Stop this oral antihistamines for 3 days before your appointment:

    • Benadryl® (diphenhydramine)

  • If you are taking an oral antihistamine that is not listed stop the medicine for 3-4 days before your appointment. If you are not sure if the medicine you are taking is an antihistamine, ask your doctor. Some over-the-counter cold and flu medications contain an antihistamine, so be sure to read labels carefully.

    • Stop this medicine the night before your appointment:

      • Accolate® (zafirlukast)

      • Singulair® (montelukast)

  • Local antihistamines (Examples: azelastine (nose), olopatadine (eye))

    • Stop these medicines the morning of your appointment:

      • Axid® (nizatidine)

      • Pepcid® (famotidine)

      • Tagamet® (cimetadine)

      • Zantac® (ranitidine)

      • Zyflo® (zileuton)

    • Some psychiatric medications, including tricyclic antidepressants, as well as some sleep aides (examples: Tylenol® PM, Advil® PM and Nyquil™) can also affect the results of your skin testing. Let your doctor know if you are on any antidepressants or sleep aides before your test, but do not stop them without consulting the prescribing doctor. 

  • Continue to take all your other medicine as you usually do. Inhaled, nasal and oral glucocorticoids (steroids) will not interfere with the results of your skin testing.

  • Do not apply lotions or creams to your back the day of your appointment.

 

What is done during the allergy prick skin testing?

When you have prick skin testing done, a small amount of each thing you may be allergic to (allergen) is placed on the skin (usually your back). The skin is then pricked. If you are allergic to an allergen, you will get a bump and redness where the skin is pricked. After a short time, each skin test reaction is measured for swelling and redness. A large enough skin reaction is a positive skin test. This means an allergy may exist to the allergen placed at that site. Your doctor will compare your prick skin test results with your history of symptoms.

 

How long will the test take?

Prick skin testing often takes 30 to 40 minutes to complete.

 

How do you get to your allergy prick skin test?

  • Adults -  On the day of your scheduled test, please check in with admissions, and they will direct you to the skin testing area. Please arrive 15-20 minutes PRIOR to your scheduled appointment.

  • Children – On the day of your scheduled test, report to the skin testing area in the Pediatric Clinic.  The pediatric clinic is on the second floor of the Gaulter Building.

If you have questions please call 303.398.1355.

Make an Appointment