Phoenix Food Challenge Testing
Food allergies are often difficult to diagnose with blood testing or skin testing alone. In many instances, skin or blood testing may result in the “over-diagnosis” of food allergies. Some kids may actually outgrow their food allergies before their blood or skin tests become negative. Because skin tests and blood tests are imperfect the providers at San Tan Allergy & Asthma offer food challenge testing as an additional measure to definitively determine whether someone may be allergic to a food or not (or whether a food allergy may be outgrown).
A food challenge generally involves giving the patient very small amounts of the food that they are suspected of being allergic to. Gradually they are given increasing amounts of the food and monitored for any type of allergic reaction.
To read more about food challenge testing, see our informational sheet.