New Allergy Test Available

Are you constantly sneezing, wiping your eyes or having trouble breathing?

Baptist Regional Medical Center now takes a single blood sample to determine if allergies are present and exactly what the allergy is.  Now through ImmunoCap Specific 1gE testing, a vile of blood can be taken helping to eliminate the discomfort of numerous pricks over and over.  The procedure can be performed on children and adults.  Behind the scenes it takes Baptist Regional Medical Center's lab a total of 3 hours to conduct the test.  If sent off site, the turn around time is estimated to be 2 to 3 days.

This area is part of the Ohio Valley Region which helps determine the type of panel to be performed.  When having a total 1gE performed the following items are checked for reaction:  milk, peanuts, cod fish, house dust mites, dog danger, egg whites, wheat, soybean, cat dander, cockroaches, molds, corn, walnut groups, shrimp, clams, scallops, latex, elm trees, pecan/hickory nuts, Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, lamb's quarters, oak trees, Kentucky Blue grass, common ragweed, sesame seeds, almonds, coconut, pecan nuts, cashews, and walnut trees.

To help patients better understand the allergy testing, results are based on numbers.  For example, if you are testing for dog dander, if the the result is lower than 0.35 there is no reaction.  Moderate is measured between 0.07 to 3.5 and High is 3.5 to 17.5.  If you test in the high area then you will need to make physical changes in your life to be able to cope with that particular allergy.  If you are in the moderate section then you make some changes and if needed take Benadryl to help control the problem.

If you are interested in learning how a small blood sample can determine allergies rather than numerous pricks, contact Carolyn Yaden, Director of Laboratory Services at 606-523-8534.