Velvet Grass Allergy Test

Allergens like food items, grass, and dust can cause an adverse reaction in different people. Some individuals are allergic to grasses like Yorkshire fog and can face one or more of the following symptoms:

• Itching
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Running nose

Although such symptoms usually aren’t lethal, you can even suffer from complex health problems like asthma. Such reactions are a result of grass pollens from a well-known type known as Holcus lanatus or Yorkshire fog (velvet grass). To find out whether you are allergic to velvet grass, it is vital to identify the reaction of your immune system.

During an allergy velvet reaction, your immune system views the grass pollens as harmful substances. Due to this reason, the body produces antibodies to fight these pollens. As a result, there is a release of two substances:

• Immunoglobulin E (IgE)
• Histamines

Moreover, these histamines are responsible for symptoms like asthma or running nose after coming in contact with velvet grass pollens. In such a case, it is crucial to understand if your body is truly allergic to velvet grass. To ensure this cause, your doctor can suggest a velvet grass allergy test.

This medical analysis is similar to an IgE antibody allergy test. In simple words, it is a test that determines the presence and quantity of IgE antibodies in your blood sample. A negative velvet grass allergy test implies that you are not allergic to Yorkshire fog. On the other hand, a positive test result indicates the existence of IgE in your blood sample.

The blood testing is comparatively less painful than the skin prick method. In the prick method, lab technicians insert allergens into your skin to analyse potential triggers. However, the velvet grass allergy test based on blood analysis involves the use of the venepuncture process.

Importantly, you do not require any special preparations for this testing. You may, however, need to pause the usage of drugs like antihistamines before the IgE antibody allergy test. As this evaluation is a simple blood test, there are minimal possibilities of side effects. You will only experience mild pain when the lab expert draws blood through your arm.

After testing positive, your doctor will first concentrate on treating any existing allergy velvet symptoms. In most cases, you will have to avoid any contact with Yorkshire fog. Also, you will receive anti-allergic medications to treat the adverse reaction.

Timely allergy testing and reporting are critical to identifying whether you are allergic to velvet grass. You can receive such a customised blood test at Apollo 24|7. The testing reports are available within seven days in most cases. As a result, you can decide the course for all the vital actions after analysing the results under your doctor’s guidance.   

Medically reviewed by Dr Jatin Ahuja, Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospitals Indraprastha, South Delhi.