Tests Used in Allergology

  Abdominal x-rays after lactose-barium meal
  Allergy Skin Test
  Breath Hydrogen Level (BHL) Test
  Breath Methane Test
  Fecal pH and reducing substances
  Intestinal biopsy for lactase activity
  Intestinal perfusion studies
  Lactose tolerance test
  Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)
  Radioallergosorbent Test (RAST)
  Skin Endpoint Titration (SET)
  Stool Acidity Test
  Urinary tests

Placebo An inactive compound having no physiological effect; an inert substance identical in appearance to the treatment drug used in clinical studies . A form of safe but non-active treatment frequently used as a basis for comparison with pharmaceuticals in research studies.

Placebo effect An apparently beneficial result of therapy that occur because of the patient's expectation that the therapy will help.

Gold Standard The most specific and sensitive test to diagnostic a disease. Used to compare other tests.