Test and Diagnosis:

A visit to a board certified allergist is necessary to ascertain whether or not you have peanut allergy. You will most likely be given a physical exam, as well as answer questions regarding your diet and your family history with allergies. Thus before going to the doctor’s office, take a moment to find out if anyone in your immediate family suffers from allergies—to peanuts, shellfish, house dust, pollen, anything.

Skin Test

Your physician may recommend you see an allergy specialist, who will administer a skin test (peanut allergy test), also known as a prick test. Tiny needles prick your skin and expose you to extremely minute amounts of peanut proteins. The specialist will be looking to see if a hive (small bump) develops at the prick site, which most likely will confirm peanut allergy.

Blood Test

This peanut allergy test requires blood to be drawn and sent away for laboratory testing. The lab will look for and measure the immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies specific to peanut allergy in your blood.