Allergy Testing & Immunotherapy

Improving Quality of Life

We provide allergy skin testing and, if appropriate, treatment, conveniently at the primary care provider’s office.

The use of skin testing, the gold standard in allergy testing, provides the fastest results and is generally fully covered by most insurances. Innova Allergy tests for 48 of the most common southeastern environmental allergens including dander and pelt of cat, dog epithelia, feathers, cockroach, dust mites, molds and pollens from weeds, grasses and trees.

From the skin test, we can isolate the exact allergens that are troubling patients, customize a treatment plan and help eliminate allergy symptoms.

What are Allergies?

An allergy is a chronic condition involving an abnormal reaction to an ordinarily harmless substance called an allergen.

Allergy Statistics:

  • One in five Americans, approx. 60 million people, suffer from allergies and chronic rhinitis, more than doubling since 1995, resulting in 13.4 million visits to the doctor each year.
  • Asthma affects 26 million Americans. The incidence has more than tripled in the last 25 years with minority and lower income populations being hardest hit. Patients with asthma make 13.9 million visits to their doctor and 1.4 million visits to hospitals annually.
  • Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the US with an annual cost in excess of $18 billion.
  • Allergic rhinitis, often called hay fever, is a common condition that often causes symptoms such as sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose, watery eyes and itching of the nose, eyes or roof of the mouth.
  • Allergic rhinitis can be seasonal or perennial.
  • Symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis occur in the spring, summer and/or early fall. They are usually caused by allergic sensitivity to house dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches and/or mold spores. Underlying or hidden food allergies rarely cause perennial nasal symptoms.
  • Once diagnosed, allergic rhinitis treatment options are: avoidance, eliminating or decreasing your exposure to the irritants or allergens that trigger your symptoms, medication and immunotherapy (allergy shots).
  • Immunotherapy (allergy shots) helps reduce hay fever symptoms in about 85% of people with allergic rhinitis.

Allergy Skin Test

The skin test is a painless way to test a patient’s sensitivity to many different environmental allergens ranging from dust mites to pollen to various trees and grasses. During the test, plastic combs are dipped in antigens and gently pressed against a patient’s back.

This takes about 20 minutes and results are given to the patient the same day. The test identifies the specific environmental allergens that are causing the allergic symptoms.

Immunotherapy

Depending on the type of allergy you have, you can train your body to become less allergic. Immunotherapy is a preventive treatment for allergic reactions to substances such as pet dander, cockroach, dust mites, molds and pollens from weeds, grasses and trees. Immunotherapy involves giving gradually increasing doses of the substance, or allergen, to which the person is allergic. The incremental increases of the allergen cause the immune system to become less sensitive to the substance, which reduces the symptoms of allergy when the substance is encountered in the future. Immunotherapy also reduces the inflammation that characterizes rhinitis and asthma.

Allergy shots, also known as subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), are the most commonly used and most effective form of allergy immunotherapy. This is the only treatment available that actually changes the immune system, making it possible to prevent the development of new allergies and asthma.

How Long Do I have to Take Immunotherapy?

It really depends on a patient’s individual allergies, including the number of allergies a patient has and the severity of each. Many patients start to physically feel better and experience some symptomatic relief within 1-3 months of starting their therapy. Achieving complete alleviation of patients’ allergies usually takes 2-3 years, but in rare cases it can require up to 5 years of therapy if a patient has severe allergies. However, by treating the underlying cause of the allergies, immunotherapy can provide a long-term solution for patients with allergies, eliminate the need for costly prescription and over-the-counter medications, and vastly improve patients’ quality of life.

Does Insurance cover the cost of the test?

Yes, almost all private insurance providers (Blue Cross, Aetna, United, Cigna, etc), Medicare and Tricare allow for coverage of both the test and the medication to treat the results of the test (Immunotherapy).

Is there any risk of an allergic reaction?

Anaphylaxis (allergic reaction) is very rare and generally only originates from food, penicillin and insect allergies. As there is no treatment for these allergies right now, we don’t test for them; so patients simply aren’t exposed to those allergens. We only test for environmental allergens.

Who Should Have an Allergy Test?

A lot of people with untreated allergy symptoms don’t realize how much better they could feel if they were properly diagnosed and managed. If you experience any of the following symptoms, ask your provider if an allergy skin test would be right for you:

  • Nasal congestion or runny nose
  • Itchy eyes, nose and throat
  • Watery eyes
  • Sinus headaches
  • Hives, itchiness or other skin condition
  • Restless, poor sleep or snoring

You can also visit www.innovaallergy.com for more information about our allergy services.