What You Need To Know About Allergy Testing
Do you sneeze randomly? Does your nose run constantly, and your eyes water often? If so, there is a chance that your immune system, could be reacting to symptoms of allergians.
According to Medline Plus, “an allergy is a reaction by your immune system to something that does not bother most other people.” To identify specific triggers and to determine the treatment, your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and daily routines.
Allergies can range from minor to severe and finding out what you are allergic to, is an important first step to effective allergy treatment. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “people who have allergies often are sensitive to more than one thing.” Combining a comprehensive medical report with an allergy test can identify specific elements that trigger your allergic reactions.
How does an allergy test work?
Allergy testing is performed by drawing blood or through examining the skin.
- For a skin test, a small amount of a suspected allergen is placed on or below the skin to see if a reaction develops.
- Allergy tests done by blood inspect for substances in the blood called antibodies.
Is it covered by your health insurance?
If you’re a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan or Blue Care Network member, you can log into bcbsm.com to see what’s covered by your plan. You can also use bcbsm.com to check your claims details and history, and find a doctor that’s in your health plan’s network.
If you liked this post, you may want to check out:
- 3 Reasons You Need To Use the Bcbsm.com Find-a-Doctor Feature
- Benefits 101: A Guide To Getting Medical Care
- More than 1 Million Members Now Registered at Bcbsm.com
For more health insurance tips visit bcbsm.com/101 or follow the hashtag #Covered101 on our social channels. If you have a specific question, please submit your query online through our Customer Action Center.
Photo Credit: James Ramspott
I think it’s important to make sure that you be tested for allergies. That way you don’t have to worry about things in the future about whether or not you’ll be allergic to something. I’ll make sure I get tested as soon as I can be. Thanks for sharing! http://www.dinopeds.com/pediatrics-services-grand-junction-co.html
I’ve noticed that I’ve been sneezing a lot lately. It doesn’t seem to have anything to do with dust, though. I didn’t realize that it could be a sign of allergies! I’ll be sure to get tested. http://www.desertsurgeons.com/sinus-allergy-treatments-palm-springs-palm-desert-ca.html
Not many people know what to expect when they get allergy testing done, so it is nice to have your article give a break down. It is particularly helpful that you bring up the fact that some testing needs to be done on blood. That way people can expect that and better prepare for it, especially if they are squeamish. https://www.agrifood.com.au/index.php/about
Thanks for reading, Duncan!