What is true about an allergy test?

• A. They always predict future reactions
• B. They are inconclusive because they can develop later
• C. They are always positive in allergic individuals
• D. They only test for food allergies

Answer: (B)

Allergy tests measure whether your immune system has IgE antibodies to specific substances at the moment of testing. They are not guarantees that you’ll have a reaction in the future. You can be sensitized (positive test) without a real-world reaction, and you can develop true allergies later even if a test was negative or inconclusive earlier. Because allergies can emerge over time and because test results don’t perfectly predict clinical responses, the tests are considered inconclusive for predicting future reactions. Clinicians interpret results alongside your history, and sometimes use safe, supervised challenges to confirm whether an allergy is present. Tests also cover a range of allergens, not just foods.