Kolkata Medical College Hospital to Introduce Allergy Tests

Kolkata: To improve the allergy diagnosis and care, the state-run Medical College and Hospital is set to become the first government healthcare facility in West Bengal to introduce two advanced tests for allergy —the skin prick allergy test and the Radioallergosorbent Test (RAST).

The initiative was announced during an inter-departmental clinical seminar on allergy and childhood deafness, hosted by MCH’s ENT department. The move is expected to benefit countless patients who previously could not afford these high-cost tests, which typically range between Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 in private labs. 

The Skin Prick Allergy Test, also known as the scratch test, involves placing small amounts of suspected allergens on the skin and observing reactions, usually within 20 minutes. It is a quick and effective method for identifying allergens such as dust, pollen, or food substances.

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If successful, the hospital plans to roll out these services to the general public within the next three months.

According to TOI, Diptansu Mukherjee, ENT associate professor, MCH, said, "We are starting these two tests on a trial basis to accurately identify the cause of a patient's allergy. It's somewhat costly and unavailable at the state-run hospital here. This should help patients who can't afford the tests outside".

Also Read: Pune Hospital Launches Specialized Allergy Department

Speaking to TOI, paediatrics professor Mihir Sarkar said, "Allergy-associated diseases in children are on the rise, mainly due to pollens, dust and other polluting agents. With a definite clinical history, tests, such as the skin prick one, can confirm the allergens, which a patient can then avoid, and treatment can be given if the disease has onset."

The seminar, organized by the ENT department, was attended by the Minister and a member of the hospital’s Patient Welfare Committee, Shashi Panja, along with Principal Indranil Biswas, MSVP Anjan Adhikari, and other senior officials. To enhance coordination in the treatment of allergy-related diseases, the hospital brought together senior doctors from the departments of Community Medicine, ENT, Respiratory Medicine, Pharmacology, and Paediatrics.