.png)
Best Allergy Tests: Understanding the Options
Before the appointment
- Continue your baby's regular feeding routine unless specifically advised otherwise
- Keep giving any prescribed medications unless your doctor advises stopping them
- Bring details of any symptoms you've noticed and their relationship to feedings
- If breastfeeding, consider keeping a maternal food diary for several days before the appointment
During skin testing
- You'll be able to hold and comfort your baby throughout the procedure
- The testing area (usually back or forearm) will be cleaned
- Drops of different allergen extracts will be placed on the skin
- A small lancet will gently prick the skin through each drop
- The area will be observed for 15 minutes for any reaction
- Our specialist nurses are experienced in making the process as comfortable as possible for young infants
During blood testing
- A small amount of blood will be drawn, usually from a vein in your baby's arm
- The procedure is quick but may cause momentary discomfort
- You can hold and comfort your baby throughout
- Results typically take several days to become available
After testing: Next steps
Following allergy testing, your specialist will:
- Explain the results and their significance
- Develop a management plan based on your baby's specific allergic profile
- Provide guidance on feeding practices, including maternal diet if breastfeeding
- Discuss indications for formula changes if formula-fed
- Create a plan for introducing solid foods, including potential allergens
- Prescribe medications if needed to manage symptoms
- Schedule appropriate follow-up to monitor your baby's progress
Special considerations for babies with eczema
Infants with eczema deserve special attention when it comes to allergy testing. Professor Lack's landmark research has demonstrated that:
- Babies with eczema are at significantly higher risk of developing food allergies
- Early identification of allergic triggers can help manage eczema symptoms
- Appropriate introduction of allergenic foods may help prevent food allergies from developing
For babies with moderate to severe eczema, comprehensive allergy testing is particularly valuable, even in the absence of obvious food-related symptoms.
The LACK Clinic approach to infant allergy testing
At LACK Clinic, our approach to testing young babies is guided by several principles:
Minimising discomfort
Our specialist nurses and doctors are experienced in performing allergy tests on infants with minimal distress. We use techniques specifically adapted for very young babies and ensure the environment is calm and supportive.
Comprehensive assessment
We believe in looking at the whole picture — not just test results, but your baby's symptoms, family history, environmental exposures, and feeding patterns all inform our assessment.
Evidence-based recommendations
Our advice is grounded in the latest research, including Professor Lack's pioneering work on early allergenic food introduction and allergy prevention.
Parental education and support
We take time to explain results clearly and ensure parents understand the implications for their baby's care. We provide written management plans and remain available to answer questions as they arise.
When to consider allergy testing for your baby
Consider discussing allergy testing with your GP or a specialist if your baby:
- Has moderate to severe eczema, especially if it started in the first few months of life
- Shows symptoms after feeding (excessive crying, vomiting, reflux, or changes in stool)
- Has poor weight gain despite adequate feeding
- Develops hives or other skin reactions
- Has a strong family history of allergies, especially if already showing symptoms
- Has had a previous allergic reaction to a food
Early testing can provide peace of mind and guide management decisions at a critical time in your baby's development.
Looking ahead: The benefits of early identification
Identifying allergies in early infancy offers several long-term advantages:
- Targeted interventions to manage current symptoms
- Potential to prevent additional allergies from developing
- Guidance for safe introduction of allergenic foods
- Early implementation of strategies that may influence the allergic march
- Reduced parental anxiety through clear understanding of triggers
- Foundation for a proactive approach to allergy management as your child grows
Conclusion
Allergy testing can be safely and effectively performed even in very young infants, providing valuable information to guide care decisions. While there are some limitations based on a baby's size, the benefits of early identification of allergic triggers often outweigh these constraints.
At LACK Clinic, we specialise in infant allergy assessment and management, offering evidence-based testing and treatment plans tailored to your baby's unique needs. Our approach combines the latest research insights with compassionate care to support families navigating early allergic conditions.
If you're concerned about possible allergies in your baby, consulting with an allergist experienced in infant care can provide clarity and direction during this important developmental period.
When both tests are valuable
In many cases, combining both testing methods provides the most comprehensive assessment. This complementary approach is particularly useful for:
Resolving discrepancies
Sometimes a child's clinical history suggests an allergy that isn't confirmed by initial testing. Using both methods can help resolve these discrepancies and avoid missing clinically relevant allergies.
Comprehensive evaluation of complex cases
Children with multiple allergic conditions or atypical presentations often benefit from the complementary information provided by both testing methods.
Monitoring the evolution of allergies
Tracking both skin test reactions and specific IgE levels over time provides a more complete picture of how allergies are evolving. Decreases in both measurements more confidently suggest that an allergy may be resolving.
Component-resolved diagnosis
In some cases, especially for foods like peanuts and tree nuts, component testing (testing for specific proteins within an allergen) via blood tests can complement skin testing to provide more detailed risk assessment.
Understanding test limitations
Both testing methods have limitations parents should understand:
False positives
Both tests detect sensitisation (the presence of specific IgE antibodies) but cannot definitively diagnose clinical allergy on their own. Many children test positive to foods they can actually tolerate without reactions. This is why test results must always be interpreted alongside clinical history by an experienced allergist.
False negatives
No test is 100% sensitive, and both may occasionally fail to detect an allergy that is clinically present. This is more common with certain allergies, such as:
- Some fruit and vegetable allergies
- Certain drug allergies
- Contact allergies (which require patch testing rather than standard skin prick or blood testing)
Age-related considerations
Very young infants may have false negative results because their immune systems are still developing. Repeated testing may be necessary as they grow.
The role of clinical history
Regardless of which testing method is used, the most important factor in accurate diagnosis is the clinical history – the detailed information about your child's symptoms, their timing, and their relationship to potential triggers. This information guides:
- Which tests to perform
- How to interpret test results
- What recommendations to make based on these results
An experienced allergist integrates test results with clinical history to distinguish between true allergy and sensitisation without clinical relevance.
What to expect during testing at LACK Clinic
Before your appointment
Preparation depends on which test will be performed:
For skin testing:
- Certain medications, particularly antihistamines, may need to be stopped several days before testing
- Continue to give asthma medications and most other prescribed medications
- Feed your child normally before the appointment
For blood testing:
- No special preparation is required
- All medications can be continued
- Regular feeding schedules can be maintained
During the appointment
Our team will:
- Review your child's medical history in detail
- Explain the testing process appropriate for your child
- Perform the tests with techniques specifically adapted to minimise distress
- Interpret results in the context of your child's symptoms and history
- Develop a personalised management plan based on the findings
After testing
Following your appointment, you'll receive:
- Clear explanation of test results and their significance
- Written management plan for identified allergies
- Guidance on avoidance strategies if needed
- Prescriptions for appropriate medications
- Instructions for emergency treatment if severe allergies are confirmed
- Plan for follow-up and monitoring
Making the decision
The choice between skin testing, blood testing, or both depends on multiple factors specific to your child's situation. At LACK Clinic, we consider:
- Your child's age and ability to cooperate with testing
- Presence of skin conditions or medications that might affect results
- Severity of past reactions
- Number and types of allergens being assessed
- Urgency of obtaining results
- Your child's preference (for older children)
We take time to explain the reasoning behind our recommendations and involve parents in the decision-making process.
Conclusion
Rather than viewing skin testing and blood testing as competing options, we see them as complementary tools in the allergist's toolkit. Each has specific strengths that make it valuable in different clinical situations.
The “best” test is the one that provides the most reliable information for your child's specific circumstances, interpreted by an experienced allergist in the context of their clinical history. Sometimes this will be skin testing, sometimes blood testing, and often a combination of both.
At LACK Clinic, we tailor our approach to each child's unique needs, ensuring that testing is not only accurate but also as comfortable as possible, providing the information necessary to develop effective management strategies for your child's allergic condition.
Don't let allergies rule your life, take control today
