Allergy Testing
Allergies start when the body becomes sensitive to a foreign substance, which is called an allergen. This can be a chemical, pharmaceutical drug, mold, pet dander, and even food. The reaction is due to a variety of mechanisms, but they all result in the release of histamine, and other inflammation causing substances. If they are released in the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes, there will be hay fever symptoms, if in the lungs, wheezing or cough, if in the skin, a rash, and so on. Various studies report that about 30% of Americans suffer from symptoms of allergy and sensitivity.
Why are some people allergic to certain substances, called allergens, and other people do not react to the same substances? The allergen alone cannot be the culprit. There is an underlying cause, which we believe is the impairment of the body’s barrier functions.
The body has the following major barriers: The skin and the mucous membranes, for example of the head (sinuses, eyes), of the lungs and of the intestinal tract (small intestine, colon). These barriers are part of the body’s very complex defense system. Their function is to keep foreign particles from entering the body. Healthy barrier functions do not allow allergens to penetrate, therefore no allergic reaction will occur.
In order to control allergy, it is essential that offending substances be identified. We recommend IgE RAST blood tests for inhalant and contact allergens and IgG RAST or MICRO-ELISA tests for foods. These tests measure antibodies and are the best for identifying true allergy. Sensitivity is diagnosed when symptoms are present, but the patient tests negative for allergies. We also perform electrodermal screening (EDS) for sensitivity testing, and look at a correlation between RAST or ELISA and EDS.
In addition to the diagnostic procedures to identify the allergens, extensive complementary diagnostic tools are used to determine the underlying causes for the impairment of the barrier functions.
All the diagnostic findings establish the basis for the individualized allergy treatment protocol at the Issels Medical Center.
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