Allergy Sweet Potato Fluorescence Assay Skin
What is this test?
Allergy sweet potato skin test is used to test the sensitization of your skin to the potatoes. This test helps in knowing the immune response to the potatoes and its products. In this test, your skin is slightly pricked and introduced to the potato particles.
What is sweet potato allergy?
Sweet potato belongs to morning glory family. It is a root vegetable with tuberous roots. It is starchy, sweet in taste. The sweet potato does not belong to the nightshade family and is very distantly related to the potatoes. Sweet potatoes are full of nutritional content. They are rich in vitamin A, potassium, fiber, natural sugars, fewer calories, etc. A sweet potato allergy may happen when the immune system mistakes the proteins in the cells of sweet potato 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 sweet potato allergy include swelling of the face, lips, tongue, rashes, itching, hives, inflammation, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, etc.
Sometimes the allergic reactions can be life-threatening causing narrowing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe. Very less often sweet potato 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:
If you have a sweet potato allergy you should be careful before eating any canned or frozen or processed food. It is used as a flour, starch, glucose syrup, etc. It is used as a substitute in candies, pasta, drinks, alcohol, etc.
Why this test is recommended?
This test may be recommended to you if experience symptoms like swelling of the face, lips, tongue, rashes, itching, hives, inflammation, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, etc immediately after consuming the sweet potato or its products. This test may also be recommended to monitor the treatment given for sweet potato allergy.
Test Preparation
No special preparation is needed for Allergy Sweet Potato Fluorescence Assay Skin. Inform your doctor if you are on any medications or have any underlying medical conditions or allergies before undergoing Allergy Sweet Potato Fluorescence Assay Skin. Your doctor depending on your condition will give specific instructions.
Understanding your test results
After getting exposed to sweet potato 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 sweet potatoes.
If there is no reaction or hives present on the skin after getting exposed to the sweet potato contents then it may indicate that you are not allergic to sweet potatoes.
| 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 |