How are chronic hives (chronic urticaria) diagnosed?

How are chronic hives (chronic urticaria) diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider can diagnose chronic hives by examining your skin and learning more about your symptoms.

Diagnostic tests for chronic hives can pinpoint or rule out causes. You may get one or more of these tests:

• Allergy test to see if an allergen is causing a reaction.
• Blood test to check for high levels of antibodies, proteins that help your body fight off bacteria, allergens and other substances.
• Urine test to look for bacterial infections.
• Skin biopsy procedure to confirm the diagnosis and evaluate for other causes.