Diagnostic Tests for Hives

Diagnostic Test list for Hives:

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Hives includes:

• Physical examination
  • Examine the skin lesions and determine sites, distribution and characteristics
  • Examine for features of SLE
  • Examine lymph nodes
• Blood tests
  • Full blood count (look specifically for increased eosinophils indicating possible parasite infection or reaction to foods as a cause of hives)
  • ESR (often elevated in persistent hives)
  • ANA and ds DNA autoantibodies to diagnose Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  • RAST (Radioimmunoassay testing)
  • Hepatitis B serology
• Skin prick allergy tests
  • Challenge testing? - e.g. cholinergic hives can be best diagnosed by exercise to sweating and then an injection under the skin of acetylcholine which will produce hives; solar hives can be verified by testing with UVB, UVA and visible light; Cold urticaria is verified by hive response to the application of an ice cube.
  • Stool sample - for microscopy and culture looking for parasites.
  • Skin biopsy, may be indicated
  • Lymph node biopsy - may be required if suspect non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

 » Next page: Glossary

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• Glossary
• Disease Center Information
• Surveys
• Join in at the forums

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Take a survey relating to Hives
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary
• Give your feedback

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

Enter your search terms Submit search form
Search The Web Search wrongdiagnosis.com

Common Health Mistakes

Symptom
Checker

Search Specialists by State and City