An allergy is a widespread occurrence due to several allergens in the environment. It is caused by an allergen, usually a harmless environmental substance. An allergy can occur due to a change of seasons or an increase in the concentration of pollen grains in the environment. In such a scenario, it is necessary to go for a hay fever test to avoid further complications. Since pollen grains are tiny invisible particles, these are present in indoor and outdoor environments. Some of the other causes behind hay fever might be dust mites, mould, pet dander, and tree pollen. Apollo 24|7 offers an allergy maxi test panel that identifies the presence of antibodies produced against the allergens. Below are the symptoms to observe before taking the rhinitis test: Itchiness in nose, mouth, eyes, throat, and skin Sneezing episode gets triggered with a specific smell Runny nose and watery eyes Nasal congestion leading to a stuffy nose Dark circle or puffiness under the eyes  Congestion in ear canals  Fatigue and irritability  Constant headache  Soreness in the throat  Loss in the sense of taste or smell Eczema leading to extremely dry or itchy skin with blisters Hives There are two types of allergic rhinitis, i.e. seasonal and perennial. A seasonal allergy occurs mainly during the change of season or transition phase of the spring or fall. These are usually outdoor allergens detected using a hay fever test. A perennial allergy occurs all year round and can occur due to indoor allergens. However, these allergens can also be diagnosed using a rhinitis test. You need to go for an allergy maxi test panel if the following factors trigger your allergic episodes: Cigarette smoke Humidity Air pollutants Wood smoke Industrial fumes  Strong colognes or perfumes Hairspray Chemicals  Rapid change in temperature The immune system works on identifying foreign particles that enter the body and neutralising them at the earliest. The immune system might be sensitive to a specific allergen or several allergens. This could result in adverse hypersensitivity reactions that might also become severe. A rhinitis test is important to determine the allergen against which your body might react aggressively. Identifying the allergen makes it easier to manage the condition and curate a personalised treatment or management protocol. The hay fever test is based on identifying antibodies produced against the allergen during the neutralisation reaction. The allergy maxi test panel utilises the ELISA or flow cytometry technique to assess the concentration of antibodies in the blood. The higher the concentration, the more intense the immune system’s reaction against the allergen. Hence, understanding the intensity of the immune system’s reaction can quickly adopt medicines into the treatment protocol. Both ELISA and flow cytometry are reliable techniques, but the latter is preferred due to minimal manual error.     Medically reviewed by Dr. Jatin Ahuja, Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospitals Indraprastha, South Delhi.