| Q. What
are allergies? |
| A. |
An allergy is the result of a
person’s overactive immune system, reacting to usually harmless
things. The substances that cause allergic reactions are known as allergens.
Your body thinks the allergen is an invader and makes antibodies to
attack it. People who have allergies have an antibody called Immunoglobulin
E, or IgE. When allergens first contact the body of a person
with allergies, allergen-specific IgE antibodies are produced. Each type
of IgE has specific "radar" for one type of allergen only.
That’s why some people are allergic to cats only (they have only the
IgE antibodies specific to cat) and others seem to be allergic to
everything.
When a person with allergies comes in contact with an allergen, his or
her body will show symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as swelling of
tissues, sneezing, wheezing, coughing, a runny nose, itchy eyes, and
other reactions.
A person with antibodies to a specific allergen is commonly referred to
as being “allergic” to that allergen |
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| Q. What
allergens are tested with MyAllergyTest? |
| A. |
Your blood sample will be tested for
the following allergens: House dust Mite, Cat, Timothy Grass, Bermuda
Grass, Mountain Cedar, Short Ragweed, Alternaria (mold), Milk, Egg
White, and Wheat. |
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| Q. Who
should do MyAllergyTest? |
| A. |
Anyone wanting to know if they are
“allergic” to the ten most common allergens should do MyAllergyTest.
This test is made especially for you, the general public. |
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| Q. Why
is it important to know what I am allergic to? |
| A. |
To help you better manage your
allergy symptoms, you must first know what is causing your allergy. For
instance, you don’t have to get rid of your cat if you are allergic to
milk, and you don’t need to avoid pollens all year if you have a
seasonal allergy to ragweed.
MyAllergyTest gives you more information. Once you know the specific
allergens causing your symptoms, you can:
1. Avoid exposure to the allergens;
2. Contact your physician to get specific medical treatment.
An accurate allergy test, such as MyAllergyTest, is an important part of
allergy diagnosis, when used together with advice from your Healthcare
Provider. |
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| Q. How
accurate is MyAllergyTest? |
| A. |
MyAllergyTest is as accurate as other
standard laboratory testing systems. The MyAllergyTest laboratory tests
your blood with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared allergy
testing method. Unlike tests that provide only a “Yes” or “No”
answer, MyAllergyTest gives you a “CLASS” number which matches your
level of allergic response. MyAllergyTest also gives you ImmuneTech
Units per milliliter (IU/mL). Some doctors may use these test results to
track the progress of allergy treatment. |
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| Q. If my
test results are negative, does that mean I am not allergic? |
| A. |
No. MyAllergyTest tests for 10 of the
most common allergens. While a completely negative test result is strong
evidence that you are not allergic to any of the most common allergens,
it is possible that you will be allergic to a less common, or even rare,
allergen. |
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| Q. What
can I do to make the blood collection easier? |
| A. |
Try any or all of the following:
- Wash your hands with warm water
- Warm your hands by rubbing them together
- Choose a finger that is warm and callus-free
- Let the hand with the chosen finger hang at your side for at least
30 seconds
- Press the Safety Lancet firmly against the tip of your chosen
finger.
- Do not pull your hand away when triggering the Safety Lancet.
- If you like, or if you feel uneasy, someone else can help you
stick your finger.
|
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| Q. Do I
need to fast or collect my blood at a specific time of day? |
| A. |
No. You do not need to fast and you
can test your blood any time of the day.
It is best to collect the blood sample before eating or several hours
after a meal. |
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| Q. Who
can get my test results from www.ImmuneTech.com? |
| A. |
Your test results are confidential.
Access to test results requires the PIN that you attach to your Personal
Identification Card and your email address. Only you can access your
results with your PIN. If you’d like to make the results available
on-line to your physician, you must give him or her your PIN and email
address. Make sure you do not lose your PIN! |
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