In addition to skin and blood testing, there are other methods that may be used to assist in the diagnosis of food allergies. These include:

• Elimination diets. Suspected food allergens such as milk, peanuts or eggs are eliminated from a patient’s diet and then slowly reintroduced one at a time. The patient is monitored for signs of an allergic reaction (e.g., skin rash, shortness of breath).
  
  To further boost the odds of an accurate diagnosis, a double-blind study may be conducted. In this approach, the food being tested is disguised so that neither the patient nor the tester knows when the suspected allergen has been introduced.
  
  
• Food challenge test. A suspected allergen is introduced to the patient in a controlled environment. After the patient consumes the food, he or she is monitored for a reaction. This test is rarely performed, and should only be conducted under the close supervision of a licensed medical professional.

Food allergy testing is most effective for patients with mild allergies. However, because some food allergies can trigger the severe and potentially life-threatening reaction known as anaphylactic shock, those with more substantial allergies may be more safely checked with blood testing.