Test for environmental allergy

A referral from your physician or specialist and an appointment is required before arriving at the allergy outpatient clinic.

The outermost layer of the skin will be pricked by a lancet through a drop of an allergy trigger, e.g. a pollen extract.

1. Medical consultation

You tell the doctor about your health complaints and especially under what circumstances you experience them (for example, especially in the morning or always at the same time of year). The test programme is drawn up based on this medical consultation and according to the examinations requested by the referrer. The test usually consists of:

2. Blood sample

Because environmental allergies represent an immune reaction to plant or animal protein components, the antibodies developed in this process can be determined in a blood sample. In addition, if the deep respiratory tract is affected (bronchial asthma, bronchitis), laboratory values are also determined which reflect the extent of allergic inflammation. The laboratory examination of the blood sample usually takes a week.

3. Skin testing

Here a selection of test substances with allergy triggers is dripped onto the skin, and then the uppermost layer of skin is punctured through the drops with a lancet. This process is virtually painless. In a positive test reaction (= allergy) an itchy wheal similar to a mosquito bite will form on the skin. In some cases several skin testing appointments may be necessary.

4. Medical consultation

After completion of all examinations, you will receive a report containing all tests and their results. The diagnostic findings will be given to you by a doctor and explained. If necessary, a therapy proposal will be offered.

Time required for the allergy test: usually 2 times 1 hour (including waiting times).