June 14, 1999 – There are three tests to determine if someone has a cat allergy, but one of these tests is usually unnecessary.
The first test consists of a small superficial incision of the skin (scarification) to cause a skin reaction to the kitty hair. If the answer leaves any doubt, we can always perform a test using a blood sample that will be put in the presence of a cat allergen in a laboratory tube. The third possible test is an intradermal test, which is quite uncomfortable and unnecessary according to researchers at John Hopkins University.
They analyzed the cases of 120 patients and found that the allergy was adequately diagnosed by one of two basic tests. The skin test is useful for the identification of allergy to penicillin and bee venom but does not add anything regarding allergy to cats.
HealthPassport.net
According to John Hopkins News, June 1, 1999
