Dr. Shyam Kalyan. N
Otolaryngology (E.N.T)
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
How accurate are skin prick tests for predicting positive reactions? My family is interested in a pet and I have had negative skin prick and blood work tests for dander. Before we bring a pet in and before my kids become bonded, is it reasonable to assume negative tests will translate into no reactions? Occasionally, when I interact with animals, I have a reaction but it is difficult to determine whether it is actually the pollen that I am highly allergic to.
Hi,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
Skin prick allergy testing is one of the most accurate ways of diagnosing the allergen, one is sensitive to. It is definitely more accurate than blood immunoCAP testing (blood allergy testing). Skin prick testing checks your sensitivity to the protein in question. Even if sensitive, it need not mean you are allergic. Whereby, a positive result need not always mean you will get an allergy to the protein. It means that your immune system is sensitized to that allergen and that an allergy can occur in subsequent exposures to the allergen.
A negative in skin prick testing will mean that you are not sensitive to that protein and that you will not end with an allergy upon its exposure. This is true. But it is specific for the particular type of allergen. What all animal danders were included in your profile and what was the response to each? Is there a photograph or record of the wheal or flare that developed after each prick? Was the test read by a clinical allergist or immunologist and were you provided a report as to that you are not allergic to any animal dander? Were you diagnosed with pollen allergy or sensitivity?
Have you observed any symptoms of allergy while in gardens or bushy areas? Or in any particular season? Does anyone else in your family have allergies?
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
The allergist did not make a distinction between allergy or sensitivity, but I am able to manage day-to-day without an allergy medication despite being in pollen season. I do, however, have congestion, occasional itchy eyes, etc. No one in my immediate family has allergies. I also had a strong reaction to dust mites and molds. Various animal danders (dog, cat, hamster, rabbit, chicken, etc.) were used for the skin prick test and I had no reaction to any. However, on occasion when I interact with a dog instance can experience skin itching, but I attribute that more to the animal picking outdoor allergens than me being allergic to the actual pet dander itself.
My concern was I want to validate that a negative allergy result was clinically significant and would likely mean bringing a pet into the home would not cause me to react.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Did you get itching every time you were around a dog? Or was it only occasionally? I would say that your family can safely get a pet. If you are allergic to molds and house dust mites then you must be careful with the pet also, as animal fur has the potential to harbor house dust mites in addition to carpets, curtains, and bedding of your house. You must bathe the pet regularly and keep him neat and clean. But, coming to your question, you can say that you are not allergic to animal dander if you have obtained negative results with skin prick testing for those proteins. Bringing a pet home will not cause allergy in you unless the pet harbors house dust mites or molds on its skin or fur.
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Otolaryngology (E.N.T)
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