Your Allergy Visit
Allergy Evaluation
In order to develop an effective treatment program, a comprehensive evaluation may involve skin testing, patch testing, in vitro allergy (blood) testing, and/or breathing evaluations, as deemed appropriate for each patient as an individual.
Allergy Testing
Skin Tests
The skin test measures IgE antibody response to certain allergens or triggers. Using small amounts of solutions that contain different allergens, your child's nurse will apply the allergens on the skin with a small scratch. A reaction would appear as a small red area. A reaction to the skin test indicates sensitization only and does not always mean your child is allergic to the allergen. Skin testing may not be done on children who have severe eczema or are on antihistamines.
Blood Tests
Blood tests for allergies measure IgE antibodies to specific allergens in the blood. The blood test most commonly used is called RAST (radioallergosorbent test). Blood tests may be used when skin tests can't be done. As with skin testing, it is important to remember that a positive blood test does not always mean your child is allergic to that allergen.
Challenge Test
A test supervised by an allergist who administers a very small amount of an allergen that is inhaled or taken orally.
Pulmonary Function Tests
In office spirometry and fractionated exhaled nitric oxide are used to evaluate asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Forms
AC6 - New Patient Packet SPANISH
YMCA Pittsford - New Patient Packet
Patient Stories
Patient Spotlight
When two-year-old Logan started to get sick, they thought it was the stomach bug.
Red Wings All-Stars
The Rochester Red Wings spotlighted GCH patients as part of their "all-star" series. Thanks, Zayden, for your amazing story!
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Welcome to Pediatric Allergy/Immunology
Hi, I'm Sandy. Let's look around and see what you might do on your allergy visit.
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Pediatric Specialties
This is where you and your family will start your visit, Pediatric Specialties!
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Check In/Waiting Room
This is where you can wait until you are ready to be seen. We have toys and books!
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Allergy Hallway
When you are called, you will go to our allergy hallway where the exam rooms are.
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An Exam Room
This is what an exam room looks like.
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People You Might Meet
These are some of the friendly people you might meet on your visit. Nurses, social workers, dieticians...
From the left: Jennifer is from Social Work. Lindsey and Lisa are our nurses and Brianne is our nutritionist.
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You'll also meet the Allergy Specialist
The Allergy Specialist is a special doctor who worked very hard to learn how to help kids like you!
Say Ahhh!
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The Exam
The Allergy Specialist will listen to your heart and your breathing with a stethoscope and will feel your belly.
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Skin Test
First the nurse puts dots on your arm with a marker. The dots keep track of where skin test will be placed.
Next we place “raindrops” on your arm, using a very small tool. It is not a shot or needle! Some children say “It feels like a toothpick.” We press it gently onto your skin.
Then you wait for about 10 to 15 minutes.
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Spirometry Test
While you wait for your skin test you might use the Spirometer! You blow into this tube and it measures how much air your lungs can hold.
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Waiting...
After waiting for about 10 to 15 minutes, your skin test shows if you are allergic to anything.
You might get itchy while you wait. Don’t worry, we have some cream that will make you feel better when the testing is done.
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All done!
Now you get to play!
While you are playing, your parents, the doctor and the dietician will talk with each other. They will discuss what the tests show and how to treat your allergies.
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Pediatric Allergy/Immunology
UR Medicine's Golisano Children's Hospital
