Allergy Tests: When It’s Needed and When It’s Not

The PedsDocTalk Podcast

Dr. Mona Amin

Medicine, Health & Fitness, Kids & Family, Parenting

5 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 4 June 2025

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Have you ever wondered whether your child really needs an allergy test? Or have you been tempted by those flashy direct-to-consumer kits, this conversation is a must-listen. Let’s tackle the rise of at-home “food sensitivity” tests, the difference between IgE and IgG, and why a detailed history matters more than any panel of results. In this episode, I’m joined once again by pediatric allergist Dr. Dave Stukus to break down what parents really need to know about allergy testing. From food allergies to seasonal sniffles, we dive into when testing is actually helpful—and when it leads to confusion, false positives, and unnecessary food restrictions. We discuss: Why most at-home food sensitivity tests are misleading—and what to do instead When allergy testing is truly helpful (and when it backfires) How to tell the difference between food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities To connect with Dr. Dave Stukus follow him on Instagram @allergykidsdoc, check out all his resources at https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/find-a-doctor/profiles/david-r-stukus We’d like to know who is listening! Please fill out our Listener Survey to help us improve the show and learn about you! 00:00 – Intro 01:16 – Why History Matters More Than Tests 03:00 – When Should You Test? 05:26 – False Positives and the Limits of Testing 07:03 – Blood vs. Skin Testing: What's the Difference? 09:07 – Eczema in Infants: To Test or Not to Test? 11:01 – Seasonal Allergies and the Right Time to Test 12:08 – Myth: “Allergy Tests Aren’t Reliable in Infants” 14:20 – The Problem with Food Sensitivity Tests 17:13 – The Red Flags of Unvalidated Testing 20:07 – The Real Harm of Over-Testing 22:35 – Final Takeaway: Ask Questions, Follow the Science 23:27 – The Truth About Panel Testing 25:10 – Can You Test for Seasonal Allergies Year-Round? 26:05 – Where to Follow Dr. Stukus 26:53 – Dr. Mona’s Reflection and Wrap-Up Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and subscribe to PedsDocTalk. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Now, allergy tests are not screening tests.
0:03.0	Pause for dramatic effect.
0:05.0	Allergy...
0:07.0	Allergy tests were never designed to be screening tests, meaning you can't just test for everything and see what comes back.
0:14.0	We get lots of false positives, both on skin testing and blood testing, and just because you have detectable IGE.
0:20.0	So IGE is the allergy antibody. So
0:22.5	these tests are designed to detect IGE. Just because you find some IGE, it doesn't mean that
0:27.3	person actually is allergic or not. We need to go back and see what happens upon exposure.
0:31.2	Welcome to the show. It's me, Dr. Mona, your trusted pediatrician online, confidant, and mom
0:36.4	friend here to support you through every
0:37.8	twist and turn of parenting. Yes, even the parts of parenting that have you scratching
0:41.8	your head while your kids scratching everything else. Seriously, why are they so itchy?
0:46.5	You're listening to the Peds Dog Talk podcast where we dive into honest conversations that empower
0:50.8	your parenting journey. And today we've got a real treat. I'm joined by none other than
0:55.4	Dr. Dave Stuckus, renowned allergist and immunologist, aka at allergy kids' doc, here to bust some major
1:02.3	myths about allergy testing. We're getting into the nitty-gritty, when to test, what those tests
1:07.3	actually mean, and why those flashy at-home kits might be better used as a
1:11.8	paperweight. Dr. Stuckus also talks about how testing isn't just about a lab result. It's
1:16.4	about listening to the full story because no tests can replace a good history and a doctor who
1:20.8	actually listens. We're also digging into why some tests, like those food sensitivity ones,
1:25.4	are more likely to create confusion than answers,
1:28.5	and how to be a savvy advocate for your kid when navigating allergy testing and management.
	...

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