How your allergy test will be recorded and how it is interpreted

All extracts are sourced from three of the world’s largest allergy manufacturing companies: in the US, Hollister-Stier (www.hollister-stier.com) and Greer Laboratories (www.greer.com). From France we use products from Stallergenes (www.stallergenes.com). If you wish to read how the extracts are created please check their websites.

ComforTen Mutiple Skin Test Device (manufactured by Hollister-Stier)
Provides 10 puncture skin tests at once with minimal patient discomfort. The device features ten surgical steel 1.2mm lancet tips, which create minimal skin trauma for comfortable allergy testing. ComforTen is the only 10-test, self-loading, surgical steel testing device on the market. In addition to creating a more comfortable experience for the patient; little or no trauma at the negative control site makes it easy to read skin test reactions. When used as directed, the ComforTen device with depth control guards will produce ten reproducible skin tests resulting in well-defined reactions. The device is equipped with directional indicators to help ensure the proper orientation and application.

If you or your doctor wishes you to be tested for something not on our list please contact us by
e-mail (allergy@slievemore-clinic.com). For example if you bring a small sliver of fresh food, the leaf of a specific tree where sap can be squeezed out etc, then that can be tested directly. This is usually done for specific fish you suspect that you might have reacted to and we do not have it in allergy extract form.
DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, TURN UP WITH A SHOPPING TROLLEY FULL OF THINGS YOU WANT TO BE TESTED FOR (it has happened!). Everything must be cleared with the clinic by e-mail beforehand.

Interpretation of results
First of all each extract is discarded 4 weeks before expiry date to ensure concentration and potency does not wane. A positive result is measured in mms of central wheal and outer flare (redness of skin).

There are positive (histamine) and negative (saline) controls to compare against and thus ensure accuracy of test result. With foods, a wheal of 6mms and greater suggests that food will trigger an allergic reaction. The greater the size of the wheal, the more likely that the reaction will be aggressive. With inhalant allergens (such as dust mite, pollens, animal hair) the size of the wheal and flare is important but does not always reflect the symptoms. For example a patient will occasionally show a very large wheal and flare (say to dust mites) but not show many symptoms. Equally a relatively small reaction (say to cat hair) in someone only recently exposed to cats is usually very important as within a year of continuous exposure the allergic reaction will probably have increased significantly (as will the patient’s symptoms).

It is easy to perform an allergy test. The skill lies in interpreting the result and linking it to the patient’s symptoms. Often there is no link. All reactions will be recorded in mms of wheal size with surrounding flare measured separately and recorded.

Standard Allergy Test

Box of 50 Extracts for Skin Prick Allergy Testing

Derek Constable, Ph.D., Director of New Product Discovery at HollisterStier, said, "ComforTen was developed with the Allergists, nurses, and the patients in mind. We have made every effort to create a comfortable allergy testing experience for all parties. We're excited to introduce this new addition to the full suite of HollisterStier products."