Food Allergy Testing
Roughly 15 million people in the United States have food allergies, and discovering their exact allergens helps them immensely. At Be Well Medical Primary Care in Chandler, Arizona, Nichole Shiffler, NMD, offers food allergy and sensitivity testing to recognize offending foods so you can avoid them in your diet. If you experience a reaction from food, schedule an appointment over the phone or online for food allergy and sensitivity testing today.
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Food Allergy Testing Q&A
Food allergy testing is a service that you can get to identify the allergens, specifically foods you eat, causing your allergy symptoms. Be Well Medical Primary Care uses the Vibrant America food allergy test, a blood test for various food allergens.
The Vibrant America food allergy test includes 96 of the most common food allergens. Your provider at Be Well Medical Primary Care draws a sample of your blood, and the sample is very small, which is excellent for children and geriatric patients.
Your provider checks the blood sample for antibodies to each of the 96 foods in the panel. It takes a few days to get your results, but once they’re ready, your provider helps you interpret them.
Vibrant America blood tests are better than skin tests, which also work for allergy testing because they don’t stimulate an allergic reaction. Because the test is so safe, you can get one if you’re pregnant or have a skin disorder.
You should consider food allergy testing at Be Well Medical Primary Care whether you get mild, moderate, or severe allergic symptoms. Even if your symptoms are mild, a severe reaction can happen during your next exposure to the allergen.
Common symptoms of food allergies include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Eczema and rashes
- Hives
- Mouth itching
- Throat tightening
- Diarrhea
- Dry cough
- Stomach pain
- Worsening of asthma
- Migraine
- Joint pain
Severe allergic reactions cause swelling of the airways, a drop in blood pressure, and other symptoms that could be life-threatening. That’s one of the many reasons why allergy testing for food allergens is essential.
Your Be Well Medical Primary Care provider goes over your allergy test results with you and explains what they mean for your diet. The Vibrant America food allergy test can detect allergies and sensitivities to many food allergens, including the eight most common food allergies:
- Peanuts
- Cow’s milk
- Eggs
- Shellfish
- Tree nuts
- Wheat
- Fish
- Soy
If you have a food allergy, you need to take steps to avoid it in your diet. With severe allergies, even trace amounts of the allergen can cause a reaction. You may need to prepare yourself for an allergic reaction by carrying an epinephrine auto-injector.
If you’re curious about which food is causing or worsening your asthma, migraines, or rashes, schedule an appointment over the phone or online at Be Well Medical Primary Care today.