SKIN TESTING

Everything You Need To Know Before Your Appointment

As you Prepare For Your Upcoming Appointment, We're Here to Provide With All of The Information You Need For a Smooth and Seamless Skin Testing Experience...

At STAAMP, “Keeping Our Patients Healthy & Happy” is more than just our motto—it’s at the heart of everything we do, including skin testing. The goal of skin testing is to identify your specific allergies, and to achieve this, we need to obtain accurate test results.


The outcome of your appointment—both the test results and your overall experience—is a shared responsibility between you and our team. While we’re here to provide the testing and interpret your results, we depend on you to follow the essential do’s and don’ts beforehand.


To help you fulfill your role in the process, we’ve put together a clear set of preparation instructions for you to review and follow before your skin test.


By following these instructions, you’ll help us provide the best possible care, avoid any need for rescheduling, and ensure that you have a positive skin testing experience from start to finish.



If you prefer to have this information in a more accessible format, you can download a PDF version at the bottom of the page.

SKin testing

What To Expect

Purpose of Skin Testing

This procedure allows the body to show any potential reactions to specific allergens in a controlled and minimally invasive way.


By observing these reactions, we can identify which substances may be causing your allergy symptoms, providing valuable insight to guide your personalized treatment plan.


Possible Reactions

You may experience mild itching on or around the test area during the testing process; these are normal reactions and typically subside within a couple of hours.


Though uncommon, it is possible you may experience congestion, sneezing, coughing, or itchy eyes during or after testing. If you expierience these symptoms, we will observe you after the conclusion of your test for an addtional period of time.

How the Test is Peformed

Small drops of allergy extracts are carefully applied to the skin, typically on the forearm or upper back.


A sterile, disposable plastic device is then used to gently prick the outer surface of the skin, introducing the extracts without actually piercing the skin.


After the application, you will be asked to wait your patient room for approximately 15 minutes to allow your skin time to respond to the allergens. 

Time Committment

The skin testing process takes approximately 1 hour to complete from start to finish.

SKin testing

Medication Guidelines

Medications You Should Avoid

The following  medications have been proven to interfere with skin test results and should be  paused/stopped within the specified time frames prior to  skin testing:

DISCLAIMER: Please consult your prescribing provider before stopping any medication(s).

  • 7-10 Days Prior (Medications with Antihistamine Effects)

     Antidepressants with Antihistamine Effects: 

     • Amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep, Etrafon, Limbitrol, Vanatrip)

     • Clomipramine (Anafranil)

     • Amoxapine (Asendin)

     • Desipramine (Norpramin)

     • Doxepin (Sinequan, Adapin, Zonalon)

     • Imipramine (Tofranil)

     • Nortriptyline (Pamelor)

     • Protriptyline (Vivactil)

     • Maprotiline (Ludiomil)

     • Mirtazapine (Remeron)

     • Trazodone (Desyrel)

     • Nefazodone (Serzone)

     • Trimipramine (Surmontil)


    Antipsychotics with Antihistamine Effects: 

     • Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)

     • Haloperidol (Haldol)


  • 5 Days Prior (Antihistamines & Related Medications)

    Oral Antihistamines

    • Allerga (Fexofenadine)
    • Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)
    • Claritin, Alavert (Loratadine)
    • Clarinex (Desloratadine)
    • Xyzal (Levocetririzine)
    • Cyproheptadine 

    All Over-the-Counter Medications for Allergy, Cough, Cold, Sleep or Nausea That Include:

    • Acrivastine (Semprex)
    • Azatadine (Optimine, Trinalin)
    • Brompheniramine (Dimetapp)
    • Carbinoxamine (Palgic, Arbinoxa)
    • Chlorpheniramine (Actifed, Aller-Chlor, Chlor-Trimenton, Tylenol Allergy)
    • Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
    • Diphenhydramine (Unisom, Sominex, Triaminic, many with "PM" in the title)
    • Doxylamine (Nyquil, Unisom)
    • Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril)
    • Meclizine (Antivert)
    • Pheniramine
    • Promethazine (Phenergan)
    • Tripolidine (Actifed)

    Nasal Sprays

    •  Astelin / Astepro (Azelastine nasal spray)
    • Patanase (Olopatadine nasal spray)

    Eye Drops

    •  Anti-Itch eye drops (e.g., Patanol, Zaditor-Ketotifen, Pataday)

    Miscellaneous

    • Botanical/Herbal Formulas
    • Homeopathic/Herbal Drops    

  • 1 Day Prior ( H2 Blockers)

    Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonists: 

    • Tagamet (Cimetidine)
    • Axid (Nizatidine)
    • Pepcid (Famotidine)

Medications You Can Continue

The following medication(s) classes do not interfere with skin test results and may be continued prior to and after skin testing as directed by your prescribing provider:

Medication Classes:

  • Nasal Corticosteroids (e.g. Flonase, Nasonex, QNasl, XHance, etc.) - DOES NOT INCLUDE: Patanase, Astepro or Astelin sprays
  • Thyroid Medications
  • Blood Pressure Medications
  • Cholesterol Medications
  • Asthma/COPD Inhaler Medications
  • Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Medications (e.g. Aspirin, ibuprofen, Celebrex, etc.)
  • Antibiotic/Antifungal/Antiviral Medications
  • Diabetes Medications
  • SSRI or SNRI Antidepressant Medications - DOES NOT INCLUDE ‘Tricyclic’ Antidepressants
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors for Acid Reflux (e.g. Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid, etc.)
  • Anti-Seizure Medications (e.g. Depakote/valproic acid)


SKin testing

Day of Testing

Before coming to your skin testing appointment, please take a moment to carefully review the following information:

If you have any questions or conerns, please call our Patient Care Coordinator (ext.104) 

  • What to Wear

    For an easier and more comfortable testing experience, we suggest wearing a loose, short-sleeve or sleeveless shirt.

  • What to Bring

    If you have asthma, you are required to bring your prescribed albuterol rescue inhaler to your skin testing appointment. 

  • Childcare Guidance

    To ensure a safe and focused testing environment, we kindly ask that young children only accompany you if absolutely necessary. In the rare event of an allergic reaction during testing, our team will be fully dedicated to your care and may not be able to supervise young children effectively.

Prefer to Have the PDF?

Click the Link Below

Download File
Share by: