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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffYour doctor will want to know your signs and symptoms and may want to conduct a physical examination to identify or exclude other medical problems. He or she may also recommend consultation with an allergist, who may request one or both of the following tests:
- Skin prick test. With this test, your skin is pricked and exposed to small amounts of the proteins found in peanuts to see if you have a skin response. If you're allergic, you develop a raised bump (hive) at the test location on your skin. Allergy specialists usually are best equipped to perform allergy skin tests.
- Blood test. A blood test (sometimes called the radioallergosorbent test, or RAST) can measure your immune system's response to peanuts by measuring the amount of certain antibodies in your bloodstream, known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. A blood sample is sent to a medical laboratory, where it can be tested for evidence of sensitivity to peanuts.
Is it peanut allergy? Or is it peanut intolerance?
Not all adverse reactions to peanuts are caused by an allergic reaction. It can be difficult to know whether you are allergic or intolerant to peanuts.
- If you have peanut intolerance, you usually can eat small amounts of peanuts with only mild symptoms, such as indigestion or heartburn, or no reaction at all. A peanut intolerance doesn't involve your immune system.
- An allergy involves an immune system response. Even a tiny amount of peanuts may trigger a serious allergic reaction. Tests can help determine whether you have true peanut allergy.
