Allergy Peanut Fluorescence Assay Skin
What is this test?
Allergy peanut skin test is used to test the sensitization of your skin to the peanuts. This test helps in knowing the immune response to the peanut and its products. In this test, your skin is slightly pricked and introduced to the potato particles.
What is a peanut allergy?
Peanuts are a type of nuts which belong to the legume family. Peanuts are also known as groundnuts, earthnuts, and goobers. They are a good source of protein. They are mostly consumed as roasted and salted whole peanuts or peanut butter. Peanut allergy is the most common food allergy seen in children and adults. A peanut allergy may happen when the immune system mistakes the proteins in the cells of peanut for a foreign substance. Then the body produces a reaction similar to the one created during an attack of bacteria or virus. The symptoms of peanut allergy are tightening in the throat, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, skin rashes, itching, hives, redness, stomach cramps, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
Sometimes the allergic reactions can be life-threatening causing narrowing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe. Very less often peanut allergy may cause an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency condition which leads to facial flushing, itching, shock, sudden fall in blood pressure, constriction of airways, swollen throat, difficulty to breathe, etc.
Foods to be avoided:
Since peanuts belong to the legume family, other members of the legume family like beans, soy, lentils, etc may also cause an allergic reaction. Hence avoid the foods which contain them. The other food items like desserts, cakes, confectionery, snacks, sauces, butter, etc which contain peanut should be avoided. The products made from peanut oil, peanut flour, peanut protein should also be avoided.
Why this test is recommended?
This test may be recommended to you if you experience symptoms like tightening in the throat, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, skin rashes, itching, hives, redness, stomach cramps, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc immediately after consuming peanut products. This test may also be recommended to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment given for the peanut allergy.
Test Preparation
No special preparation is needed for Allergy Peanut Fluorescence Assay Skin. Inform your doctor if you are on any medications or have any underlying medical conditions or allergies before undergoing Allergy Peanut Fluorescence Assay Skin. Your doctor depending on your condition will give specific instructions.
Understanding your test results
After getting exposed to peanut contents if you develop hives, which are raised bumps at the test location that are at least 3mm in size may indicate that you have the allergy to peanut.
If there is no reaction or hives present on the skin after getting exposed to the peanut contents then it may indicate that you are not allergic to peanut.
| Gender | Age groups | Value |
| UNISEX | All age groups | A wheal and flare reaction of atleast 3mm indicates that the patient is allergic to the substance |