Division of Allergy & Immunology

Comprehensive Treatment

Hackensack University Medical Center’s Division of Allergy and Immunology provides comprehensive treatment of allergies, asthma and immune disorders for patients of all ages.

The allergist-immunologists at Hackensack University Medical Center diagnose and treat common and complex allergy, asthma, and immune disorders with the goal of providing immediate relief and improving your quality of life. Our experts will deliver an accurate diagnosis and create an individualized treatment plan that works for you.

Led by Mary Ann Michelis, M.D., FAAAAI — a board-certified allergist and immunologist — our allergists-immunologists combine their years of experience in the field with the latest technology and techniques to provide comprehensive care.

Our specialists understand that an accurate diagnosis is key to effective allergy, asthma and immunology care. That’s why we provide a full range of diagnostic and treatment services, including:

  • Immunology and virology laboratories that can identify immune deficiencies and infectious diseases
  • Drug allergy testing and desensitization
  • Food allergy evaluation
  • Lung, airway and breathing capacity tests
  • Patient education by clinical nurse educators and licensed nutritionists
  • Outreach and education using our Asthma Information Relief (A.I.R.) Express Mobile Care Unit, a specially equipped bus that offers free asthma care and screenings to members of the community

Our allergists-immunologists have published numerous articles on a variety of topics and routinely participate in clinical trials and research studies to advance the field of allergy, asthma and immunology. And, in recognition of our commitment to excellence, the Division of Allergy and Immunology earned its Joint Commission Accreditation for Disease Specific Care in Asthma — as well as several other national and regional awards for outstanding allergy, asthma and immunology care.

Contact Us:

Alfred N. Sanzari Medical Arts Building
360 Essex Street
Suite 302
Hackensack, NJ 07980

Call 551-996-2065
Fax: 551-996-2165

Complete Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Care

Our nationally recognized allergists-immunologists provide expert diagnosis and treatment of allergies, asthma and immune disorders for patients of all ages.

Conditions We Treat

Our allergists-immunologists provide comprehensive care for a full range of allergic and immunologic conditions, including:

  • Asthma. Asthma is a chronic condition that causes your airways to become inflamed, which can lead to coughing, shortness of breath or wheezing. We provide expert treatment for asthma that is caused by allergies, as well as asthma that is triggered by exercise or upper respiratory infections.
  • Drug allergies. Drug allergies occur when your body has an immune reaction to a prescription or over-the-counter medication or herbal supplement. We provide expert diagnosis and treatment of a variety of drug allergies, including allergies to anesthetics, antibiotics and insulin.
  • Food allergies. Food allergies occur when you have an allergic reaction to a food that you come into contact with or ingest. We diagnose and treat all types of food allergies, including allergies to eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy.
  • Atopic dermatitis (eczema). Atopic dermatitis, also called eczema, causes swollen, red, itchy, rough, or scaly skin. Our allergists-immunologists will conduct a thorough evaluation of your condition to determine the cause before developing an individualized treatment plan. We also treat contact dermatitis, which occurs when your skin comes into contact with a substance that causes an allergic reaction.
  • Allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever, occurs when allergens or irritants — such as dust, pet dander, molds, cigarette smoke or pollens — cause allergy symptoms including a runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes, nose or mouth. Our specialists will determine the cause of your hay fever and provide expert treatment.
  • Eosinophilic disorders. Eosinophilic disorders occur when an allergic reaction causes a type of white blood cell called an eosinophil to build up in your body, resulting in chronic inflammation and tissue damage. Our specialists provide expert care for eosinophilic disorders.
  • Primary immune deficiency. Primary immune deficiency, also called congenital immune deficiency, is present at birth and occurs when your immune system does not work properly and is unable to fight bacteria, viruses, cancer cells or parasites.

Looking to have an allergy test completed, below are the time lines for each procedure.

Food Allergy Testing Timeline

Metabisulfite Allergy Testing Timeline

Oral ASA Desensitization Allergy Testing Timeline

Patch Allergy Testing Timeline

Skin Allergy Testing Timeline PFT_Timeline

Individualized Treatment

Our specialists will provide you with an accurate diagnosis, develop a personalized treatment plan and provide ongoing care that brings you relief and improves your quality of life.

Diagnosis & Treatment

At Hackensack University Medical Center, our allergists-immunologists provide comprehensive care using the latest diagnostic tests and science-based treatments. Diagnostic tests include:

  • Allergy skin testing. During allergy skin testing, tiny diluted amounts of suspected allergens are injected under your skin. Within 15 minutes, a skin reaction will occur if you are allergic to the substance. The size of the skin reaction indicates how sensitive you are to the allergen.
  • Radioallergosorbent test (RAST). RAST is a blood test that measures your body’s reaction to an allergen in the laboratory.
  • Skin patch testing. Skin patch testing is performed for localized allergens, such as jewelry and cosmetics. During the test, a suspected allergen is applied to a patch that is placed on your skin and worn for approximately 48 hours.
  • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The ELISA test is a blood test used to evaluate food allergies and perform nasal secretion analysis to check for immune deficiency.
  • Oral challenge tests. Oral challenge tests are performed to diagnose or rule out a food or drug allergy. During an oral challenge test, you will be given a small, gradually increasing amount of the suspected allergen while under medical supervision.
  • Pulmonary function test. Pulmonary (lung) function tests – such as spirometry and lung volume tests – help your doctor determine how well your lungs are working and can help to diagnose asthma.
  • Exercise-induced asthma test. If your doctor suspects that you have exercise-induced asthma, you may be asked to complete an exercise challenge test using our on-site exercise equipment. You will be asked to complete pulmonary function tests before and after exercise, which will provide your doctor with information about how well your lungs are working.
  • Inhalation challenge tests. We offer inhalation challenge tests that use a variety of agents to trigger asthma symptoms. Pulmonary function tests are given before and after inhalation challenge tests to determine how well your lungs are working.
  • Imaging tests. Your doctor may order X-ray or CT scans to check for blockages or polyps in your sinuses.

Depending on your diagnosis, our specialists will develop a personalized treatment plan that helps to relieve your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Treatments include:

  • Education on avoidance and management. Our team — which includes allergists-immunologists, clinical nurse educators and registered dietitians — will provide the education you need to help you avoid or eliminate allergy triggers, prevent flare-ups and manage your condition. Children who have asthma have access to educational programs that are conducted at area schools.
  • Medications. If you have environmental allergies, your doctor may recommend a prescription or over-the-counter medication to help you manage symptoms. To treat asthma, your doctor may recommend medications to prevent and reverse airway inflammation, or a biologic medication to treat the cells that are causing allergic inflammation. Medications may also be used to treat infections and immune disorders.
  • Epinephrine (EpiPen® or Auvi-Q®). If you are at risk of having a life-threatening allergic reaction, your doctor will prescribe an injectable medication called epinephrine. Epinephrine is used to provide emergency treatment for a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
  • Immunotherapy (desensitization). Immunotherapy, also called desensitization or allergy shots, involves injecting a known allergen into your body over a period of time. Your doctor will gradually increase the amount of allergen in each injection until your body builds up a resistance.
  • Drug allergies and desensitization. Our specialists work closely with pediatricians, gastroenterologists, obstetrician-gynecologists, rheumatologists, otolaryngologists (ENTs), and oncologists to provide comprehensive care for people with allergies or immune disorders that are interfering with the treatment they need for another condition. We offer drug skin testing, oral challenges and desensitization for patients who are having adverse reactions to:
    • Oncology mediations such as Rituximab , Taxol and others
    • Antibiotics for various infectious diseases
    • Aspirin for heart disease
    • Anesthetic agents, including both general and local anesthetics

Community Asthma Care

The Division of Allergy and Immunology’s Center for Allergy, Asthma & Immune Disorders provides consistent access to asthma screenings and education for people in underserved areas through our Asthma Information Relief (A.I.R.) Express Mobile Care Unit — the A.I.R. Express bus. Our team of nurses uses the bus to visit elementary schools in Bergen County throughout the year to perform asthma screenings. The center holds a yearly fundraising event to support our mobile asthma bus program. Our fundraising event educates current and potential donors on asthma management and treatment.

Meet the Division Director

Allergy Resources

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Our Allergy & Immunology Specialists

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