>
>I have a question:  is the RAST test truer than a skin test? We have
>another allergy checkup coming up... this time I have to take BOTH of my
>boys as the older one has developed asthma.
>

Not "truer", but different. In a child whose skin is highly reactive (even
to foods that s/he is not necessarily allergic to, the RAST tests may give
you a more reliable result. On the other hand, the RAST tests miss some
things, too - especially foods.

Our son is anaphylactically allergic to milk. But he tested negative to
milk in both skin and RAST tests. His allergist blythely said he wasn't
allergic. We foolishly went ahead with an oral challenge; on a Sunday; when
the allergist's office was closed; we had a quick trip to the ER on that
one. They told us we shouldn't have believed the negative results.

Mark