Patient Instructions for Skin Testing

1. Schedule your appointment with our receptionist
2. Three (3) days or 72 hours before your testing appointment is scheduled, please stop taking the following medications:
   • Antihistamines, click for List
   • Decongestants / antihistamines combination medications, click for List
   • Astelin, a prescription nose spray antihistamine
   • Any over-the-counter allergy medicines, cold and cough remedies
   • Any over-the-counter sleep aids, they usually contain a sedating antihistamine

If you are not certain if you are taking a product that contains antihistamine or decongestant, ask your pharmacist or call this office.

Please note:
You should continue to take as prescribed the following medications:

• Antibiotics
• All asthma medications
• Prescription nose sprays, with exception of Astelin, which is an antihistamine
• Decongestants that are not combined with an antihistamine

To help determine whether an allergy is involved, the doctor may perform a skin prick test or intracutaneous test. These tests involve either a gentle prick through a drop of allergen extract on the surface of your inner forearm or the injection of a small amount of allergen extract into the skin. This may result in a small swelling and a reddening of the skin, suggesting that you have an allergy. Your results will be discussed at the time of testing.

Further testing may be ordered from an offsite laboratory and your insurance may require pre-certification for these tests.