Hayfever Allergy Testing – Indications, Procedures, Results

Last updated: February 8, 2026Reviewed date: February 8, 2026Reading time: 10 min read
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Hayfever - allergy testing; Dermatitis - allergy testing; Allergy testing; Intradermal allergy testing Allergy skin tests are used to find out which substances cause a person to have an allergic reaction. The 2 main allergy tests are: a skin prick test – where the allergen is placed...

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এই তথ্য শিক্ষা ও সচেতনতার জন্য। এটি ডাক্তারি পরীক্ষা, রোগ নির্ণয় বা প্রেসক্রিপশনের বিকল্প নয়।

Article Summary

Hayfever - allergy testing; Dermatitis - allergy testing; Allergy testing; Intradermal allergy testing Allergy skin tests are used to find out which substances cause a person to have an allergic reaction. The 2 main allergy tests are: a skin prick test – where the allergen is placed on your arm and the surface of the skin is pricked with a needle to introduce the allergen to your...

Key Takeaways

  • This article explains How the Test is Performed in simple medical language.
  • This article explains How to Prepare for the Test in simple medical language.
  • This article explains How the Test will Feel in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Why the Test is Performed in simple medical language.
Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.
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  • Any symptom that feels urgent, unusual, or unsafe for the patient.
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See a doctor

Book a professional medical evaluation if symptoms persist, worsen, recur often, affect daily activities, or occur in a high-risk patient.

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Use this article to understand possible causes, tests, treatment options, prevention, and questions to ask your clinician.

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Definition

Hayfever – allergy testing; Dermatitis – allergy testing; Allergy testing; Intradermal allergy testing

Allergy skin tests are used to find out which substances cause a person to have an allergic reaction.

The 2 main allergy tests are: a skin prick test – where the allergen is placed on your arm and the surface of the skin is pricked with a needle to introduce the allergen to your immune system; if you’re allergic to the substance, a small itchy spot (welt) will appear.

How the Test is Performed

There are 3 common methods of allergy skin testing.

The skin prick test involves:

  • Placing a small number of substances that may be causing your symptoms on the skin, most often on the forearm, upper arm, or back.
  • The skin is then pricked so the allergen goes under the skin’s surface.
  • The health care provider closely watches the skin for swelling and redness or other signs of a reaction. Results are usually seen within 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Several allergens can be tested at the same time. Allergens are substances that cause an allergic reaction.

The intradermal skin test involves:

  • Injecting a small amount of allergen into the skin.
  • The provider then watches for a reaction at the site.
  • This test is more likely to be used to find out if you’re allergic to bee venom or penicillin. Or it may be used if the skin prick test was negative and the provider still thinks that you’re allergic to the allergen.

Patch testing is a method to diagnose the cause of skin reactions that occur after the substance touches the skin:

  • Possible allergens are taped to the skin for 48 hours.
  • The provider will look at the area in 72 to 96 hours.

How to Prepare for the Test

Before any allergy testing, the provider will ask about:

  • Illnesses
  • Where you live and work
  • Lifestyle
  • Foods and eating habits

Allergy medicines can change the results of skin tests. Your provider will tell you which medicines to avoid and when to stop taking them before the test.

How the Test will Feel

Skin tests may cause very mild discomfort when the skin is pricked.

You may have symptoms such as itching, a stuffy nose, red watery eyes, or a skin rash if you’re allergic to the substance in the test.

In rare cases, people can have a whole-body allergic reaction (called anaphylaxis ), which can be life threatening. This usually only occurs with intradermal testing. Your provider will be prepared to treat this serious response.

Why the Test is Performed

Allergy tests are done to find out which substances are causing your allergy symptoms.

Your provider may order allergy skin tests if you have:

  • Hay fever ( allergic rhinitis ) and asthma symptoms that are not well controlled with medicine
  • Hives and angioedema
  • Food allergies
  • Skin rashes ( dermatitis ), in which the skin becomes red, sore, or swollen after contact with the substance
  • Penicillin allergy
  • Venom allergy

Allergies to penicillin and related medicines are the only drug allergies that can be tested using skin tests. Skin tests for allergies to other drugs can be dangerous.

The skin prick test may also be used to diagnose food allergies. Intradermal tests are not used to test for food allergies because of high false-positive results and the danger of causing a severe allergic reaction.

Normal Results

A negative test result means there were no skin changes in response to the allergen. This negative reaction most often means that you are not allergic to the substance.

In rare cases, a person may have a negative allergy test and still be allergic to the substance.

What Abnormal Results Mean

A positive result means you reacted to a substance. Your provider will see a red, raised area called a wheel.

Often, a positive result means the symptoms you’re having are due to exposure to that substance. A stronger response means you are likely more sensitive to the substance.

People can have a positive response to a substance with allergy skin testing, but not have any problems with that substance in everyday life.

Skin tests are usually accurate. But, if the dose of allergen is large, even people who are not allergic will have a positive reaction.

Your provider will consider your symptoms and the results of your skin test to suggest lifestyle changes you can make to avoid substances that may be causing your symptoms.

FAQ

Is there a test for hay fever?

Blood test
  • A sample of blood will be taken from a vein in your arm and tested for the presence of the Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody. If you have hay fever, your body produces this antibody when it comes into contact with pollen. If your blood tests are positive for IgE, this may confirm that you have hay fever.

Is hay fever an allergy or intolerance?

  • Hay fever is a common allergic reaction that occurs at particular times of the year. It is known as seasonal rhinitis, sharing symptoms with perennial (year-round) allergic rhinitis, but occurring as a reaction to pollen from grass, trees, and weeds during the early spring and summer months.

How many days do you have to be off antihistamines before allergy testing?

  • For best results from your skin test, you should avoid most antihistamines for at least 7 days prior to skin testing. Many guidelines only recommend 3-4 days of avoidance prior to skin testing, but a significant number of patients will still have some reduced skin test response for up to 7 days.

How much does an allergy test cost in Australia?

  • How much does allergy testing cost? In Australia, Medicare covers part of the cost of skin prick tests and blood tests used to detect allergies, if the tests have been ordered by a doctor. You can expect to pay about $120 for each test once Medicare has covered some of the costs.

Is a sore throat a symptom of hay fever?

  • Allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever, is an allergic reaction that causes sneezing, congestion, an itchy nose, and a sore throat. Pollen, pet dander, mold, and insects can lead to hay fever symptoms.

Why did I suddenly develop hay fever?

  • It can be difficult to differentiate between a cold and hay fever, but there are certain triggers that can lead to these symptoms coming on more strongly, such as being around pollen, grass, pollution, or pet dander.

How do I know if I’m allergic to hay?

Symptoms
  • Runny nose and nasal congestion.
  • Watery, itchy, red eyes (allergic conjunctivitis)
  • Sneezing.
  • Cough.
  • Itchy nose, the roof of mouth, or throat.
  • Swollen, blue-colored skin under the eyes (allergic shiners)
  • Postnasal drip.
  • Fatigue.
Does Covid feel like hayfever?
Hay fever or asthma can produce symptoms similar to COVID-19 such as a runny nose, cough, or shortness of breath, and while good management can help prevent these, it is critical to get tested for COVID-19 if these are different from your usual symptoms, or have restarted after a period of absence, or if it is unclear …Feb 9, 2022
Can hayfever feel like flu?
People may call some allergies ‘hay fever,’ but do allergies cause cold and flu symptoms? Allergies can cause symptoms that are very similar to a cold or flu, such as a runny nose, sore throat, or sneezing.
What should you not do before an allergy test?
Preparation for Allergy Testing
  • Do not take Claritin, Clarinex, Zyrtec, Xyzal, or Allegra for 7 days prior to the allergy test.
  • Do not take over-the-counter antihistamines (Benadryl, cold & sinus medications, sleep aids such as Tylenol PM) 7 days before the test.

Can you feel sick after allergy testing?

  • Skin testing is generally well tolerated. The most common reaction is local itching and swelling of the test site which resolves within a few hours. Other possible side effects include itching of the eyes, nose, and throat; runny nose, wheezing, light-headedness, hives, and nausea.

Is allergy skin testing better than blood tests?

  • Generally speaking, skin tests are more sensitive than blood tests, meaning they are more likely to detect allergies that a blood test may miss. Skin tests also require less wait time, as results are typically delivered in 15-20 minutes, rather than the one to a two-week wait time of blood tests.

How do you get rid of a sore throat from hayfever?

  • Soothing a sore throat with a warming drink, such as warm water with honey, or a broth can help provide some relief. Just be sure to check the temperature isn’t too hot first though, as that could cause further discomfort.

How do you get rid of hay fever fast?

How to treat hay fever yourself
  • put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen.
  • wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen from getting into your eyes.
  • shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off.
  • stay indoors whenever possible.
  • keep windows and doors shut as much as possible.
Table 2: Hay fever vs. common cold.
Hay fever Common cold
Does not cause fever May cause low-grade fever

Can hayfever make you feel really ill?

  • People may also feel quite unwell. “While the symptoms of coronavirus and hay fever can overlap, people with hay fever don’t experience a high temperature and most won’t feel unwell. “Hay fever and allergy symptoms tend to be milder, for example, itchy eyes, sneezing, and coughing.

Can hay fever affect the Covid test?

  • A high temperature (fever) is not a symptom of hay fever, but it is a key sign of COVID-19. If you’re feeling hot or have chills or shivers alongside hay fever-type symptoms like a runny nose and cough, you should self-isolate and get a COVID test.

Can you run a low-grade fever with allergies?

  • The symptoms of a cold are often characterized by a runny nose, sore throat, and cough. Patients with severe seasonal allergies can feel very fatigued and have a low-grade fever (“hayfever”) making the distinction even harder.

Does hayfever get worse as you get older?

  • Many people find their hay fever symptoms dwindle as they age, although no one knows why. But allergies can and do get worse over a lifetime, and there are reports of people who are middle-aged and older suddenly developing hay fever that has never been sensitive to pollen before.

What are the 10 most common allergies?

  • The 10 most common allergies include foods, animals, pollen, mold, dust mites, medications, latex, insect stings, cockroaches, and perfumes/household chemicals. Allergies are a condition in which the body’s immune system considers a substance as a harmful “invader” and overreacts to it.

Can hayfever cause sore throat and ears?

  • Nasal allergies, or allergic rhinitis, can sometimes give rise to ear pain. Allergies create congestion in the sinuses and ear canals, which can lead to pain and discomfort in the ear. Allergies cause the body to release chemicals, such as histamine, that can irritate the nose, eyes, and throat.

How can you tell the difference between a cold and hay fever?

Differences Between Colds and Allergies
Characteristic Cold Allergy
Fever Rarely Never
Itchy, watery eyes Rarely Often
Sore throat Often Sometimes
Runny or stuffy nose Often Often

What is the best natural remedy for hay fever?

  • Honey is said to be a natural remedy for hay fever because the bee pollen in honey can desensitize your body to other pollens. Increasing honey in your daily dietary intake should reduce hay fever symptoms significantly. Make sure you use local honey in your area to see the best results.

Why did I suddenly develop hay fever?

  • It can be difficult to differentiate between a cold and hay fever, but there are certain triggers that can lead to these symptoms coming on more strongly, such as being around pollen, grass, pollution, or pet dander.

How do you permanently get rid of hay fever?

  • There’s currently no cure for hay fever and you cannot prevent it.

How do you get rid of hay fever fast?

Find the right antihistamine
  • Antihistamines are the most common hay fever treatment. Use them when you experience symptoms or, if you know which type of pollen you’re allergic to, you can take them during your hay fever season to stop symptoms before they happen.
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Care roadmap for: Hayfever Allergy Testing – Indications, Procedures, Results

Use this simple roadmap to understand the next safe steps. It is educational and does not replace examination by a doctor.

Go to emergency care if you notice:
  • Very drowsy/confused, severe breathing difficulty, stiff neck, seizure, severe dehydration, or persistent vomiting
  • Bleeding, severe abdominal pain, very low urine, or dengue warning signs during fever season
Doctor / service to discuss: Medicine doctor, pediatrician for children, or qualified clinician.
  1. Step 1

    Check danger signs first

    If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.

  2. Step 2

    Record the symptom story

    Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.

  3. Step 3

    Visit a qualified clinician

    A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.

  4. Step 4

    Do only useful tests

    Discuss temperature chart, hydration, CBC with platelet count when needed, urine test, dengue/malaria testing, or other tests based on local disease risk and examination.

  5. Step 5

    Follow up and return early if worse

    If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips
  • Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
  • Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
  • Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.
  • Do not start antibiotics blindly for every fever; many fevers are viral and need correct assessment.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

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