Francis Holistic Medical Center

N. Thomas LaCava, MD, Medical Director                                             Treating the Cause of Complex Chronic Illness

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Our Policies for Allergy Testing


For you to derive the most benefit from testing, please adhere to the following procedures:


  1. The testing process requires mental concentration for accuracy; therefore, the testing room is limited to only people who are being tested.  Of course, children being tested must have a parent present at ALL times.
  2. Wear a short sleeved shirt when scheduled for skin testing.
  3. Bring a list of foods you have eaten during the previous 4 days, when you are being tested for foods.
  4. Do not wear perfumes, after-shaves, hair spray, or scented deodorants.  Do not wear clothes that have been dry-cleaned or washed with scented soaps or fabric softeners.
  5. Take 2-4 capsules of bicarbonate each morning of testing and eat a balanced breakfast containing protein, essential oils, and fiber.
  6. Conversation and activity is to be kept to a minimum in the testing room.  Please remain quiet except for reporting of symptoms to the technician.
  7. Refrain from the use of cellular phones during testing.
  8. Drinking and eating are not permitted during testing.
  9. At the end of each testing session, check the time of your next testing appointment.   If you cannot keep your next testing appointment you must let the office know 24 hours in advance or you may be charged for the late cancellation.  Late cancellation fees are $50.00/half day of testing and $100.00/full day of testing.
  10. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU INFORM THE ALLERGY TESTING TECHNICIAN PRIOR TO EACH TESTING SESSION OF ANY SUBSTANCES WHICH HAVE EVER CAUSED YOU TO HAVE A SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION OR AN ATTACK OF ASTHMA.

Your cooperation in these matters will be greatly appreciated by our staff and other patients.


Medications & Allergy Testing:

IMPORTANT: Discontinuing certain medications must be done under the strict advice of your physician, as the medications may be vital to your health.  If you have an elevated blood pressure, it should be controlled with medication other than a beta-blocker if possible.  You may also want to address our preventive medicine approach to diagnosing uses of essential hypertension without synthetic drugs.

Accurate allergy testing usually requires the following.

1. No antihistamines or antihistamine containing medication within two to six days of testing.

    Benadryl - Avoid two days before testing.

    Chlor-Trimcton and Zyrtec - Avoid three days before testing.

    Claritin - Avoid four to six days before testing.

    Atarax and Seldane - Avoid six days before testing.

    Hismanal - Avoid six to eight weeks before testing.

2. No alpha or beta-blockers within one week of testing.

3. No MAO inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, or phenothiazines within four weeks of testing.

4. In regards to cortisones (steroids), most cortisone inhalers are okay, and occasionally short courses of cortisone by mouth or injections are okay.  The everyday use of cortisone by mouth for a long period of time may prevent allergy testing.  Discuss this with the nurse or physician before or at the time of your initial office visit.


Certain other medications, which are not listed here, may also interfere with allergy testing.  Please consult our office before scheduling your testing appointment.  You can also contact our allergy department at (508) 854-1380 x. 207.

We provide integrative, functional medicine in Central Massachusetts in the Worcester area. Many of our patients come from Boston and the Metrowest Boston area as well as all areas of Massachusetts and the other New England states.

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