I think the only things on the test I wasn't allergic to were animals and food, but every plant on the test had a reaction

It's an allergy test. A doctor scratches the skin a bit and introduces allergen into that spot. If there's inflammation it means the patient is allergic to that specific thing. The test is done with multiple allergens at once, marked by a given number for that allergen. Since every number corresponds to a different allergen, they know which one a person is allergic to (it inflames). As we can see in this photo, the child is allergic to everything except allergen no. 2.

They prick you with various allergens to determine what allergies you have. Not everyone gets it, mainly people that suffer with asthma and allergies. They test things from foods, dust mites, animals, plants etc.

@Foxxy, I didn't know they did the prick test on a person's back. I think the other version isn't as common, I only know of it because I have a nickle allergy, so I looked into getting it tested.

Hello that wasn’t my case at all. I had the prick test on my back and it was done in one day. Pretty much the same as the image, just on my back and more pricks.

The image is a prick allergy test. They prick your skin with common air allergies, such as cat, dog, pollen, etc. it's rated on a scale from 1-4. A back allergy test is done by sticking skin related allergens to a persons back for a period of time.

It's a skin prick test to see if you have allergies. They put a little bit of the allergen on a needle, then just barely prick your skin. If it flares up, then you're allergic to that.

The doctor puts an allergen under your skin and sees if you are allergic to it and there are different allergens

Thank you for your answers

From google: A skin prick test, also called a puncture or scratch test, checks for immediate allergic reactions to as many as 50 different substances at once. This test is usually done to identify allergies to pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites and foods. In adults, the test is usually done on the forearm.

It's an allergy test. They put a minute amount of common allergens (dust, pollen, grass, etc) on a needle, or pin, then scratch it on the surface of your skin. Each number corresponds to an allergen. If the skin reacts like it has done in this picture then you are allergic to that item. No reaction=no allergy. Lately, there is a new type of test where the allergen is embedded in paper & that paper is adhered to the skin. It comes up with the same type of reaction but is much less painful than being scratched 20-200 times!

Skin testing for allergies. Each numbered bump is a reaction to a specific allergen.

for allergies

They inject various substances to see what you react to so they can determine your allergies. Then they make your allergy medicine custom-tailored to you.

Allergy test. You can test on different things, animals, food, flowers etc.

If you have symptoms of allergies, you can get this test - I think it’s called a scratch test - to see what exactly you are allergic to. They use a needle and make a series of very shallow scratches with a variety of different allergens to see if any of them swells up. The numbers are so the Dr. can tell which samples produced a reaction. This poor kid seems allergic to every sample except #2...

It's called a scratch test and works just like it sounds. They take a small amount (just enough that there is some on the point of the needle) of the allergen, poke you with a needle and wait to see if you react to it. Unfortunately this test is prone to false positives where your skin reacted to the irritation of the needle poke and not the allergen. The blood test is better in that it gives fewer false positives but is more expensive.

They test for all the different foods & other substances that some people are allergic to, so each number refers to a different thing. If a bump comes up by that number, you know you can't eat/drink or be exposed to that.

it is a allergy test that for me was given after i got about a year of shots for pollen allergies. It measures how allergic you are to something.

same, but the good thing is im wasn't allergic to anything

I am always on here coz I don’t have much of a life lol. Actually that’s not true, I do have a life, it’s just most posts are submitted just before I start dinner and after the kids go to bed so that is my free time. I am also opinionated, an over sharer and just like to have a say.

yes

Yeah, the scratch test is prone to false positives where your skin just reacts to the irritation of being scratched rather then the allergen itself. It's better as an indicator of what you're not allergic too rather then what you allergic too.

It can be done either way. With kids they generally use the back, both to prevent scratching, and to have more available surface area.

There are two types of allergy tests, one is done as a smaller prick test on the arm, and it's common air allergies, such as cat, dog, pollen, etc. The other version is done by sticking skin related allergens to a person's back for 5 days.

Guys I accidentally replied to the wrong comment sorry. I know this is how it works, I've had it done multiple times. Once again I'm sorry. I meant to reply ro the benadryl comment.

It’s all good Autumn, no need to apologise.

my poor uncle, though. he had a TON of allergies and when he took the test his back erupted into one HUGE hive. ouch. wish it tested for things that i'm actually allergic to, like penicillan, or the flu shot. would have saved me a few annoying doctor trips.

No, some allergies have lessened as I have gotten older, whilst others have gotten worse. You can do desensitisation but it is costly and doesn’t always work.

What do you mean that’s not how it works? They can see how you react when it is done on your back. If you are allergic to the prick, there are signs like redness around the area, bumps like what is pictured etc.

What are you talking about? They definitely at least used to do allergy tests on people’s backs.

You can’t take any form of antihistamine when you get the test done coz then the reactions likely wouldn’t happen. You need to see the reactions so you know what your triggers are and to try and steer clear of.

as a small child?