Instructions for skin testing adult

Patient Instructions for Allergy Testing
3450 East Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613, (813) 972-3353 If you are scheduled for skin testing, please wear a sleeveless shirt since testing is performed on the arms and sometimes on the back. If you are having an oral challenge test, please do not eat anything at least 1 hour prior to testing. Do not take antihistamines for 7 days and antidepressants for 14 days prior
to testing date. See attached list of medications. Please be careful with over
the counter sinus and allergy medications. Contact your prescribing physician
first before discontinuing any antidepressants.
Notify allergy assistant if you have taken oral steroids within the last four weeks. You should not use any steroid cream on the arms or back prior to testing. You may not undergo allergy testing if you are pregnant. You MAY undergo allergy testing if you currently take a Beta Blocker. Please be aware that you will not be able to receive allergy shots if you are on a Beta Blocker, but you may receive allergy drop therapy. Please contact your prescribing physician to see if it is possible to change your medication. You may not undergo allergy testing or treatment if you are taking a MAO Inhibitor, which are typically prescribed for Parkinson’s and depression (Marplan, Nardil, Parnate and Eldepryl). Please note that you must call us at least 4 days prior to testing date to
reschedule your appointment or you will be charged a $50 no show fee.
may use Singulair, nasal steroid sprays (Flonase, Nasonex, Nasacort, Rhinocort), Cromolyn Sodium, oral decongestants without antihistamines (Sudafed), or topical nasal decongestants (Afrin). If your allergy symptoms are still unmanageable, please use the attached prescription for Prednisone. Other information: Following allergy testing, you may take an antihistamine to control symptoms exacerbated by testing. Hydrocortisone cream may also help relieve itching. For persons with hairy upper arms, please shave this area the day before. Please avoid vigorous exercise and do not eat any suspected allergic foods on the day of testing. Review the attached list of medications, including herbal supplements, which should be avoided prior to allergy testing. The day following allergy testing, please call back and let us know about any
delayed reactions. The allergy nurse will instruct you on how to do this.
List of Beta Blockers: pills and eye drops
BRAND

Herbal Supplements: withhold 7 days prior
Licorice Feverfew
Milk Thistle St. John’s Wort
Bee Pollen

PRESCRIPTION ANTIHISTAMINES (pills, eye drop, spray): withhold 7 days
prior
BRAND
OTHER ANTIHISTAMINES: MUST WITHOLD 7 DAYS PRIOR TO TESTING
METHDILAZINE (TACARYL)
CHLORPHENIRAMINE (CHLOR-TRIMETON)
PROMETHAZINE (PHENERGAN)
CLEMASTINE
TACARYL (METHDILAZINE0
DIPHENHYDRAMINE (BENADRYL)
TEMARIL (TRIMEPARAZINE)
HYDROXYZINE (ATARAX, VISTARIL)
THORZINE
Antidepressants Medications: STOP 14 DAYS PRIOR TO TESTING
GENERIC
AMITRIPTYLINE (ELAVIL, ETRAFON, LIMBITROL, VANATRIP) AMOXAMPINE (ASENDIN) CLOMIPRAMINE (ANAFRANIL) DESIPRAMINE (NORPRAMIN) DOXEPIN (ADAPIN, SINEQUAN, ZOLALON) IMIPRAMINE (TOFRANIL) MAPROTILINE (MECLOBEMIDE) MIRTAZAPINE (REMERON) TRIMIPRAMINE (SURMONTIL) NORTRIPTYLINE (AVENTYL HYDROCHLORIDE, PAMELOR) PROTRIPTYLINE (VIVACTIL) REMINDER: CHECK YOUR INSURANCE BENEFITS
FOR ALLERGY TESTING AND TREATMENT

Please note that it is your responsibility to call your insurance provider
prior to testing in order to find out what your out of pocket costs will be
for allergy testing and treatment. Call the phone number for membership
benefits which is located on your insurance card. Most insurance carriers
will pay for most of the cost of the allergy skin testing and allergy shots.
Also, please note that many insurance companies have an annual deductible
which must be met by the patient before the insurance begins to pay for
coverage. It is our policy to collect your insurance deductible on the day of
allergy testing. If your deductible has not been met, you will be responsible
for paying $300 for allergy testing and $20 for each allergy injection office
visit. These amounts are the average amount allowed by most insurance, so
you may be billed for a slightly greater amount. Since allergy treatment
requires several years of treatment, please take into account your annual
deductible.
In general, insurance carriers will not pay for food and chemical testing and
will not pay for allergy drop therapy. If you choose to undergo allergy drop
therapy or undergo food or chemical testing, you will have to pay for these
services directly. For some patients with high deductibles and copayments,
it may be less expensive to receive allergy drops.

Allergy drops for airborne allergens cost $60 per bottle which will last about
2 months. Allergy drops for foods and chemicals cost $60 for two bottles,
which will last about 2 months. Provocative testing for food and chemical
allergies costs $50 for each item tested. Generally, we can only test three
items at a time due to time constraints.
CPT CODES FOR ALLERGY TESTING:
allergy skin testing (95004, 95024)
injections (95115, 95117)
injection vial preparation (95165)
Yoon C. Nofsinger, M.D.
Tampa ENT Associates, 3450 East Fletcher Avenue Tampa, FL 33613
Name:_____________________ ___ Date:_________________
Address:______________________
Prednisone
*You may take this medication only if you are having severe allergy
symptoms during the week prior to your allergy test when you must
discontinue all antihistamines. Please take the least amount to control
symptoms.


Refill Number _____________
Label only ________________

__________________ M.D.
Yoon C. Nofsinger, M.D.
BC4708852


**Potential side effects: moodiness, weight gain, increased appetite, insomnia. Rare
incidences of cataracts, osteoporosis, amd hip fractures.

Source: http://www.tampaent.com/webdocuments/Patient-Instructions-for-Skin-Testing-ADULT1-4.pdf