Allergy Testing

Our experienced allergy testing team will ensure that you receive excellent care and be there every step of your journey. We offer allergy testing for environmental allergies.

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Allergy testing is the first part of your evaluation and treatment planning. Our primary goal is to ensure that you are safe, comfortable, and well-informed throughout this process. Allergy testing allows your physician to create a treatment plan that addresses your specific immunotherapy needs. Our experienced allergy testing team will ensure that you receive excellent care and be there for every step of your journey. We offer allergy testing for environmental allergies.

How Allergy Tests are Performed

Allergy tests are performed by injecting a small amount of the allergen into your arm and monitoring the reaction. The allergy test will take between 1-2 hours to complete. This allows time for the injection and enough time to view the results. An initial “control test” will be performed to ensure your skin will respond appropriately to the testing. If this initial test result responds abnormally, you may have residual medications lingering in your body. This means the allergy test will have to be rescheduled for another day.

To correctly perform the test, patients should refrain from beta blockers before testing. Beta blockers are used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, and glaucoma. If you are currently taking a beta blocker, you will need to check with the doctor who prescribed it to see if you may safely stop this medication for one week before testing. You will not be able to receive allergy injections while taking a beta blocker. Your prescribing doctor may want to switch you to a different class of medications if you’re considering allergy treatment after your testing is completed.

One of the best doctor’s visits I’ve EVER had. Got the answers I’ve been looking for YEARS now. Finally feel like I have a plan! Love this place!

by MD

Conditions Tested with Allergy Testing

Pollen allergies
Dust allergies
Environmental allergies

Benefits of Allergy Testing

Provides assurance on allergens
Only requires a few hours to complete
Helps improve patients’ lives by making them aware

With 18 convenient locations across the greater Houston & San Antonio areas, we’re never far away.

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About Texas ENT Specialists

At Texas ENT Specialists, we offer tailored treatment and surgery for a wide selection of ear, nose, and throat conditions. Since 1997, we have been striving to help the patients of Houston achieve long-term relief. With 15 office locations across Texas, we have made it as convenient as possible for you to visit our specialists. We have set ourselves apart in ENT care by providing our patients with:

Personalized Treatment

Each appointment and treatment is customized to fit your needs. We believe that treatments should be tailored to the patient rather than simply taking a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

Top-Rated Physician Network

Each of our offices is staffed with a network of experienced providers who have been fellowship-trained and are experts in their area of ENT care.

Centers of Excellence

Our locations are designed to offer our patients a seamless experience from the moment they schedule their appointment to the moment we’re saying goodbye.

Continuity of Care

Our providers always help patients to achieve long-lasting relief, never looking for only short-term solutions to the problem.

Who Is a Candidate for Allergy Testing?

Patients who experience chronic allergy symptoms are a candidate for allergy testing with Texas ENT Specialists. During your appointment, our staff will help determine if allergy testing is the correct option for you or recommend an alternative path. Our staff can perform skin testing for patients as young as 5, and we offer modified testing for our youngest patients.

Your Allergy Testing Timeline

1 Week Before Testing

A member of our team will email you a list of medications to avoid before allergy testing. If you have any questions or concerns regarding over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, eye drops, inhaled medications, and nasal sprays, please call the office before the day of your allergy test. Please inform us if you have any respiratory illness or a history of respiratory complaints.

The Day Of The Test

Shower in the morning
Do not apply any perfumes, colognes, or scented products

Once you begin your allergy test, it will take 1-2 hours to complete. Testing is done on the arms. Your doctor will place the injections along these areas, and will then ask you to wait for the reactions. During the testing appointment, there will be a period between applying the testing antigen and when the results can be read. Please bring along a book, magazine, or electronic tablet to pass the time.

Please wear a short-sleeved or very loose-sleeved shirt that will easily slide up to your shoulder. If you have sleeve tattoos (or for any reason you are unable to have the test done on the arms), please wear a loose pair of shorts that can slide up past the upper thighs.

Children 5-7 years old and children eight years or older with small arms should wear or bring loose-fitting shorts.

You will be required to perform a pulmonary lung function test. This screening test will help to ensure that you do not have a lung condition that could put you at risk during the allergy testing process. Please inform your doctor if you have asthma, a history of asthma, or any other lung condition or if you use inhaled medications.

Pre-Testing Information

Preparing For Your Allergy Test

What You Can Expect During The Test

Medications to Stop Before Your Test

Instructions For Beta Blocker Meds

Allergy Testing FAQ's

Is there any recovery after the test?

No. You may experience some discomfort, swelling, or redness at the site of the injection, but that will wear off within a few hours.

Can children receive allergy testing?

Yes, we provide this service for children.