preparing for your first visit

Dr. Dauby accepts most commercial and medicare insurance plans, including UPMC, Highmark, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Cigna.

Please call your insurance to verify eligibility and to find out if you need a referral from your primary care provider.

You should arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment time in order to complete paperwork.

You must bring your insurance card , a valid form of identification (driver license), and a form of payment (credit card or cash). We do not accept American Express.

You must bring a signed medical treatment authorization form when minor is brought by someone other than parent/legal gardian.

Patients with an unmet deductible will be asked to pay for the services at the time of the appointment.

For your convenience, we have a patient portal which allows for easy communication with the staff, reviewing test results, and making payments. You can access the patient portal here.

During your visit, skin tests may be applied to help determine your suspected allergies. The test results will provide you with the knowledge you need to help make an informed decision regarding your health and treatment options. Skin testing is a quick (15-20 minutes), safe, and reliable way to assess for allergies. It is nearly painless and very well tolerated, even by small children (the sensation is similar to poking the skin with a pencil). The worst part of the test isn't pain, but itching, which occurs at the site of the allergens you are sensitive to. The itching usually resolves on it's own in about 20-60 minutes. Skin testing is very safe, even in people who are very allergic to things (foods, insects). Rest assured that you will be closed monitored during your visit to ensure that everything goes well.

In order to be able to perform a skin test accurately, you must stop certain medications several days prior to your appointment.

Medications which should be stopped before skin testing or other procedures, such as a food oral challenge include:

Antihistamines to be stopped 7 days before the appointment:

Cetirizine (Zyrtec, Zyrtec D)

Desloratadine (Clarinex, Clarinex D)

Doxepin (Sinequan)

Fexofenadine (Allegra, Allegra D)

Loratadine (Claritin, Claritin D, Alavert)

Levocetirizine (Xyzal)

Meclizine (Antivert, Dramamine)

Antihistamines to be stopped 5 days before the appointment:

Brompheniramine (Actifed, Atrohist, Dimetap, Drixoral)

Chlorpheniramine (Chlortimeton, Deconamine, Novafed, Rynatan)

Clemastine (Tavist, Antihist)

Cyproheptadine (Polaramine)

Diphenhydramine (Allernix, Benadryl, Nytol, Tylenol PM)

Doxylamine (Bendectin, Nyquil)

Hydroxizine (Atarax, Marax, Vistaril)

Promethazine (Phenergan)

Stomach medications to stop 5 days before the appointment:

Cimetidine (Tagamet)

Famotidine (Pepcid)

Nizatidine (Axid)

Ranitidine (Zantac)

Nasal sprays and eye drops to stop 5 days before the appointment:

Azelastine (Astelin, Astepro, Dymista, Optivar)

Bepotastine (Bepreve)

Ketotifen (Zaditor, Alaway)

Olapatadine (Pataday, Patanase, Pazeo)

Pheniramine (Visine A, Naphcon A)

Note that there are many other over the counter cold medications and sleep aids which contain antihistamines. This includes Tylenol Allergy, Actifed Cold, Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold and Cough, and many others. Please check the ingredients of any over the counter medication to ensure they do not contain any of the above ingredients.

You should NOT stop your asthma medications. This includes your inhalers and singulair (montelukast).

There is NO need to stop steroid nose sprays (flonase, fluticasone, rhinocort, budesonide, nasacort, triamcinolone, flonase sensimist) or oral steroids (medrol, prednisone).