Can PCP's do Allergy testing?

[halodoctor]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Is it possible to perform your own skin testing for patients with allergic rhinitis and other atopy and avoid the hassle of sending a patient to see an allergist?

Where do you see the future of this type of testing going? It seems a little ridiculuous that such a simple procedure with very obvious interpretation parameters would need to be performed only by allergists...?

😳

 

[J-Rad]

I would imagine that if you get the training for the procedure, have the appropriate equipment, and have the capability to keep your equipment up to what ever standards exist then yes, you could do your own allergy testing. But would the cost of running the test be offset by the reimbursement for it in the PCP office? Probably not. And a lot of PCPs don't really know what to do with info from allergy tests (not that a little education can't overcome that). Since you're posting in the IM forums I'm assuming you mean allergy testing on adults. Wouldn't a RAST test in an appropriate patient (another thing PCPs don't pick out very well) be a lot more economic than skin testing in your office (I mention the adult thing because RAST isn't appropriate for a lot of kids).
But ultimately a lot (most) of allergy tests are useless, regardless. "Yup, you're allergic to this native North Kakalaki mold."
"Well, what should I do doc?"
"Take some Zyrtec for now and then move to Arizona"

 

[halodoctor]

haha, that is all very helpful j-rad.

what do you mean by pcp rates for skin testing vs allergist rates for skin testing....?

 

[GoodmanBrown]

I think he means straight up number of times you do it. For a PCP who only does the test 2-3 times a month, the volume of reimbursement can't pay back the overhead.

For an allergist, the volume is much higher because many people are being sent to you for the test. Thus, the overhead is more than covered by reimbursement.

haha, that is all very helpful j-rad.

what do you mean by pcp rates for skin testing vs allergist rates for skin testing....?