What are tests for nasal allergy?

Nasal allergies commonly cause itching in the nose, sneezing, a runny nose, nasal stuffiness, watery eyes, and sometimes a dry cough. To confirm whether allergies are actually behind these symptoms, doctors rely on a combination of specific tests.

The Skin Prick Test (SPAT) is generally considered the most sensitive option and is often the first choice, since it directly shows reaction to specific allergens on the skin. A serum IgE blood test is another common option, which measures overall allergy antibody levels in the blood and can include panel testing to identify which particular allergens might be responsible for your symptoms. Beyond these, intradermal tests and patch tests are other types of skin testing used in specific situations, and provocative tests are reserved for cases where someone has clear allergy symptoms but doesn't show a proper reaction on skin testing.

Alongside allergy-specific testing, nasal endoscopy is often done by an ENT doctor to rule out structural causes, like a deviated septum or nasal polyps, that could be contributing to similar symptoms independent of allergies.

As for who should do the workup, an ENT specialist can usually manage the initial evaluation and basic testing, especially when structural issues need to be ruled out alongside allergy symptoms.