Name of Allergy Shots: SCIT, Allergen Immunotherapy, and Why There's No Brand Name
The clinical name for allergy shots is subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) — the operative term in Cox 2011 PP3. For insurance, the billing code is CPT 95117. There is no branded SCIT product: extracts are custom-mixed in the allergist's office from FDA-licensed manufacturer starting material. Historical names include desensitization (Noon 1911), hyposensitization (European literature), and allergen vaccines (WHO 1998 position paper, PMID 9802362).
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The clinical name for allergy shots is subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) or allergen immunotherapy. The insurance billing code is CPT 95117 for two or more injections per visit. There is no branded product — extracts are custom-mixed by the allergist from FDA-licensed raw materials.
The essentials
The clinical name for allergy shots is subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) — the term used in the operative US guideline, Cox L et al (JACI 2011;127[1 Suppl]:S1-S55, DOI 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.09.034). A broader synonym is allergen immunotherapy (AIT), which encompasses both SCIT and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). The European allergy specialty body (EAACI) uses allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASI or AIT) interchangeably.
For patients trying to navigate insurance coverage or look up PubMed literature, having the right terminology is practically essential. There are three name contexts that matter.
First, the procedure name: subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) is the searchable clinical term for PubMed, insurance policy lookups, and specialist referrals. Variations like 'allergen immunotherapy' and 'immunotherapy for allergies' refer to the same family of procedures.
Second, the billing codes: CPT 95117 (professional allergen immunotherapy, two or more injections per same visit) is the workhorse administration code for maintenance visits; CPT 95115 (single injection per visit) is used when only one vial is administered. CPT 95165 (professional services for allergen immunotherapy, multi-dose vial preparation, per dose) covers the extract preparation itself. The 2025 CMS Physician Fee Schedule (FR Doc 2024-25382) sets Medicare allowed amounts at $11.97 for CPT 95117 and $13.91 per dose for CPT 95165.
Third, the manufacturer names (not brand names): US FDA-licensed allergenic extract manufacturers include Greer Laboratories (acquired by Stallergenes Greer), ALK-Abelló, and Hollister-Stier (now Jubilant HollisterStier). These companies supply standardized extract starting materials to allergist offices. There is no Pfizer or Merck of allergy shots — the final prescription is a custom mixture prepared by the allergist per the ACAAI Allergen Immunotherapy Extract Preparation Instructional Guide. This is structurally different from FDA-approved SLIT tablets (Grastek, Oralair, Ragwitek, Odactra), which are branded finished-drug products dispensed by specialty pharmacy.
Curex offers at-home IgE testing with allergist review to identify the specific allergens that would be included in any subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) extract prescription — the same diagnostic step that precedes Cox 2011 protocol extract preparation.
Historical names for allergy shots are worth knowing because patients may encounter them in older health records or conversations with clinicians trained in earlier decades: 'desensitization' (dominant term from Noon 1911 through ~2010); 'hyposensitization' (European mid-20th-century synonym); 'allergen vaccines' (WHO 1998 Bousquet/Lockey/Malling position paper, PMID 9802362).
How allergy shots retrain your immune system
Understanding the nomenclature of allergy shots is inseparable from understanding how the procedure works. SCIT is called 'immunotherapy' — not 'desensitization' or 'medicine' — because it retrains the immune system through allergen-specific regulatory T cells and blocking IgG4 antibodies. This distinction from symptomatic drug therapy is why the 2011 Practice Parameter standardized 'subcutaneous immunotherapy' as the operative term.
The SCIT name maps to a specific procedure and billing pathway
Prescribing 'SCIT' or 'allergen immunotherapy' triggers a specific clinical pathway: allergy testing, extract preparation (CPT 95165), and a build-up phase (CPT 95115/95117 per visit) followed by a maintenance phase. Each visit requires a 30-minute post-injection observation per Cox 2011 PP3.
No brand name = custom-mixed to your allergens
Because there is no branded SCIT product, each patient's extract vials are formulated specifically to their confirmed IgE sensitization profile. This allergen-specific customization is a strength of SCIT — the extract matches the patient's actual immune triggers, not a standardized product catalog.
SLIT tablets have brand names but cover only four allergen categories
Grastek (Timothy grass), Oralair (5-grass mix), Ragwitek (short ragweed), and Odactra (house dust mite) are FDA-approved branded SLIT products. Patients with sensitization to allergens outside these four categories cannot use FDA-approved SLIT tablets — they require custom-mixed SCIT or off-label sublingual drops.
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See if at-home shots are right for youTreatment options side by side
The naming distinction between SCIT and SLIT tablets reflects a regulatory difference: SLIT tablets are FDA-approved finished-drug products with brand names; SCIT extracts are FDA-licensed at the manufacturer level but custom-prepared in the allergist's office.
| Treatment | Efficacy | Duration | Cost (5yr) | Convenience | Safety |
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SCIT (allergy shots) | |||||
SLIT tablets (FDA-approved) | |||||
SLIT drops (off-label) |
- Efficacy
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- Convenience
- Safety
- Efficacy
- Duration
- Cost (5yr)
- Convenience
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- Efficacy
- Duration
- Cost (5yr)
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Curex provides at-home subcutaneous immunotherapy — SCIT itself, the procedure this page names — as one weekly self-administered shot for $129/month. There is no brand name because the serum is personalized: sterile-compounded to USP <797> standards and matched to your IgE profile, prescribed and overseen by a board-certified allergist, with the first dose and every dose change supervised live over Zoom and a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector confirmed on hand — no recurring in-clinic injection visits.
See if at-home shots are right for youFrequently asked questions
What is the medical term for allergy shots?
The medical term for allergy shots is subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) — the operative terminology used in the AAAAI/ACAAI/JCAAI Practice Parameter Third Update (Cox L et al, JACI 2011;127[1 Suppl]:S1-S55). The broader umbrella term is allergen immunotherapy (AIT), which includes both SCIT (by injection) and SLIT (sublingual drops or tablets). European literature and the WHO 1998 position paper (Bousquet J, Lockey R, Malling HJ, JACI 1998;102:558-562) use 'allergen vaccine' or 'allergen-specific immunotherapy' as synonyms. Historical terms — desensitization and hyposensitization — also refer to the same procedure.
Is there a brand name for allergy shots?
No. There is no branded finished-drug SCIT product on the US market. Allergen extracts for injection are supplied by manufacturers (Greer/Stallergenes, ALK-Abelló, Jubilant HollisterStier) as licensed raw materials and custom-mixed in each allergist's office to match the individual patient's confirmed allergen sensitization profile. This is fundamentally different from FDA-approved SLIT tablets — Grastek (Timothy grass), Oralair (5-grass mix), Ragwitek (short ragweed), and Odactra (house dust mite) — which are branded finished-drug products with NDA approvals dispensed by specialty pharmacy.
What CPT codes are used for allergy shots?
The three relevant CPT codes for SCIT are: CPT 95115 (professional allergen immunotherapy injection, single injection per visit); CPT 95117 (professional allergen immunotherapy injection, two or more injections per same visit); and CPT 95165 (professional services for allergen immunotherapy, multi-dose vial preparation, per dose). The 2025 CMS Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (FR Doc 2024-25382) sets Medicare allowed amounts at $10.35 for 95115, $11.97 for 95117, and $13.91 per dose for 95165. Diagnostic skin-prick testing uses a separate code: CPT 95004 (percutaneous skin testing, per allergen, up to 60 tests).
What companies make allergy shot extracts?
US FDA-licensed allergenic extract manufacturers include Greer Laboratories (now part of Stallergenes Greer, Lenoir, North Carolina), ALK-Abelló (Hørsholm, Denmark, with US distribution), and Hollister-Stier (now Jubilant HollisterStier, Spokane, Washington). These companies supply standardized and non-standardized allergen extracts to allergist offices. For the 19 FDA-standardized allergens (cat hair, cat pelt, 9 grasses, short ragweed, 2 dust mite species, 5 Hymenoptera venoms), extracts have calibrated potency in BAU or AU units. For non-standardized allergens (most trees, many animal danders, molds), extracts are measured in PNU or w/v.
What is the old name for allergy shots?
Before 'subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT)' became the US specialty standard around 2010, allergy shots were most commonly called 'desensitization shots' or 'hyposensitization therapy.' The term 'desensitization' traces to Leonard Noon's first grass-pollen injections published in Lancet 1911 (1:1572-1573). 'Hyposensitization' was the dominant European term through the 1990s. The WHO 1998 position paper (Bousquet J, Lockey R, Malling HJ, JACI 1998;102:558-562, PMID 9802362) formally endorsed 'allergen vaccines' as the category name. US practice shifted to 'immunotherapy' to reduce confusion with acute drug-desensitization protocols.
How do I look up allergy shots in insurance coverage terms?
When researching insurance coverage for allergy shots, use the term 'allergen immunotherapy' or 'subcutaneous immunotherapy' and the CPT codes 95115, 95117, and 95165. Most commercial plans require prior authorization. The insurance company will ask for diagnosis codes (commonly J30.1 allergic rhinitis due to pollen, J30.9 allergic rhinitis unspecified, J45.21-J45.51 allergic asthma by severity) and documentation of IgE sensitization testing results and failure of pharmacotherapy. Medicare Part B covers SCIT under the physician services benefit with 20% coinsurance. Medicaid coverage varies by state — many states accept these CPT codes but have variable prior authorization requirements.
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about a medical condition. Content reviewed by board-certified allergists at Curex.