Risks
Skin tests
The major risk with the skin prick test
or the intradermal skin test is a severe allergic reaction called
. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction
include itching, wheezing, swelling of the face or entire body, trouble
breathing, and low blood pressure that can lead to
. An anaphylactic reaction can be
life-threatening and is a medical emergency. Emergency care is always needed
for an anaphylactic reaction. But severe allergic reaction is rare, especially
with the skin prick test.
If you are having a skin patch test and
you have severe itching or pain under any of the patches, remove the patches
and call your doctor.
Blood test
There is very little risk of a problem
from having blood drawn from a vein.
- You may develop a small bruise at the
puncture site. You can reduce the risk of bruising by keeping pressure on the
site for several minutes after the needle is withdrawn.
- In rare
cases, the vein may become inflamed after the blood sample is taken. This
condition is called phlebitis and is usually treated with a warm compress
applied several times daily.
- Continued bleeding can be a problem
for people with bleeding disorders. Aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), and other
blood-thinning medicines can also make bleeding more likely. If you have
bleeding or clotting problems, or if you take blood-thinning medicine, tell
your doctor before your blood is drawn.