Allergy Testing — An Overview

Childhood allergies pose huge economic burden and adverse effects on quality of life. Serum IgE has been considered a surrogate allergy marker for decades. Availability of several over-the-counter allergy tests add to confusion of partially trained caregivers. The present review focuses on current status of allergy testing in Indian scenario. Various in-vitro and in-vivo diagnostic modalities are available for allergy detection. Skin prick tests are useful for aero-allergies whereas oral challenge tests are best for identifying suspected food allergies. An allergy test should be individualized based on clinical features, diagnostic efficacy, and cost-benefit analysis.