Food Allergy Testing in Lawrenceville, GA

The signs and symptoms of a food allergy can range from uncomfortable but not severe to severe and life-threatening, in the case of anaphylaxis. For the non-severe variety of symptoms, the following are commonly experienced:

– Tingling or itching in the mouth
– Hives, rashes, or eczema
– Abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting
– Dizziness and light-headedness
– Swelling in the lips, face, tongue, or throat

If you are experiencing anaphylaxis, it is critical that you immediately go to your nearest emergency room. The life-threatening symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

– Constricted airways
– Swelling in the throat that makes breathing difficult
– State of shock and critical drop in blood pressure
– Rapid pulse

Dizziness or light-headedness that leads to a loss of consciousness
Anaphylaxis is an immediate hypersensitive allergic reaction that is rapid in onset. It usually requires the injection of epinephrine with an EpiPen, which most individuals with such allergies carry on their person.

You should consider scheduling a food allergy test if you consistently experience physical symptoms shortly after eating a specific food. Immediate red flags that warrant testing include the sudden onset of hives, swelling of your lips, tongue, or throat, wheezing, shortness of breath, dizziness, or severe abdominal cramping and vomiting. These are potential signs of anaphylaxis, a serious and life-threatening immune response. Even if your past reactions were relatively mild, such as just an itchy mouth or a few hives, food allergies can be unpredictable; your next reaction could be significantly worse.

A thorough evaluation by our board-certified allergists is crucial to identify the exact trigger. We strongly discourage “at-home” food allergy test kits, as they frequently yield false positives and unreliable results, leading to unnecessary anxiety and dangerously restrictive diets. By getting professionally tested at our clinic, you will receive an accurate diagnosis and a customized emergency action plan, empowering you to eat and live safely.

No, a food sensitivity (often called a food intolerance) is very different from a true food allergy. The key distinction lies in the body system involved. A true food allergy triggers your immune system; your body mistakenly identifies a harmless food protein as a dangerous invader and releases chemicals like histamine. This reaction can happen rapidly—often within minutes—and can affect multiple organs, potentially leading to a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis.

Conversely, a food sensitivity or intolerance involves the digestive system, not the immune system. It occurs when your body struggles to break down a certain food, such as lacking the enzyme needed to digest the sugar in milk (lactose intolerance). Symptoms of a sensitivity are generally limited to gastrointestinal issues like bloating, gas, cramps, and diarrhea. While an intolerance can be highly uncomfortable and disruptive, it is rarely severe and never life-threatening. Our expert allergists can help you determine whether your symptoms are caused by a true allergy requiring an epinephrine prescription or an intolerance requiring dietary adjustments.

Our board-certified allergists, Dr. Jon E. Stahlman, MD, and Dr. Deidre D. Crocker, MD, perform tests for a food allergy. There are multiple ways for allergists to attain an accurate diagnosis. The following are the four main types of testing that allergists use to either confirm or rule out a food allergy:

Skin test: A small amount of the food suspected to be an allergen to you is placed on your forearm or back before the allergist pricks the skin in that area. If you are allergic to that specific food, that area will begin to swell, and a raised bump will appear.

Blood test: Blood tests measure the amount of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies that are produced in your body. Your body produces these antibodies when you have an allergic reaction. During the test, your blood is drawn into a vial and analyzed in a lab to determine if you are allergic to a certain food or not.

Oral challenge: The allergist gives you small and controlled amounts of the food suspected to trigger the allergic reaction. If you do not have an allergic reaction during the test, the suspected allergy is likely ruled out.

Elimination diet: This testing involves removing certain suspected foods from your diet for a week or two before adding them back one at a time into your diet. This method helps you and your allergist decipher which foods are linked to your symptoms and which are not. However, this method is not effective for differentiating between a food allergy and a food sensitivity.

If you would like to learn more about our food allergy testing services at Allergy and Asthma Center in Lawrenceville, GA or would like to book an appointment with us, we would be love to hear from you! You can either book an appointment on our website or you can call us! Our Lawrenceville clinic is located at 565 Old Norcross Rd and is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.