Allergy Screen (Inhalants and Foods) Blood Test, from our experts to you.
Dr Sam Rodgers MBBS, MRCGP

Chief Medical Officer meet our doctors

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What is an
Allergy Screen (Inhalants and Foods) Blood Test?

Our allergy screen provides a comprehensive analysis of the common inhaled substances and foods that can cause IgE-mediated allergies. Four mixes of allergens are tested for (grasses, dust, moulds, and trees), alongside many of the common single allergens. You'll also get a total measure of your immunoglobulin E, which is often raised if you have an IgE-mediated allergy.


Who should
take this test?

Our test is ideal as part of an initial investigation screen if you have signs of IgE-mediated allergies, such as hives, redness of the skin, vomiting, and lip or facial swelling, which develop quickly after exposure to an allergen. A positive reaction to one of the mixes allows you to narrow down which substances are likely to be causing your allergy. However, you won't be able to identify the single allergen, so you may need to arrange a further test for the single allergens in one of the mixes.


Which allergens
are included?

The allergens tested are:

  • -Grass mix - cocksfoot, meadow fescue, meadow, rye, timothy
  • -Dust mix - Blattella germanica, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, house dust (Hollister Stier labs)
  • -Mould mix - A. alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Cladosporium herbarium, Helminthosporium halodes, Penicillium notatum
  • -Tree mix - box elder, common silver birch, hazel, oak, London plane, maple, sycamore
  • -Single allergens - beef, bermudagrass, cat dander, clam, cow's milk, crab, dog dander, egg white, egg yolk, fish (cod), hazel nut, horse dander, latex, nettle, peanut, shrimp/prawn, soya bean, wheat

What's Included?

Allergy
Immunity
Select profile for more information

Allergy profile 1 There are several types of allergic conditions, this test looks specifically for the triggers for Immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated allergies. This type of allergic reaction typically develops quickly after encountering an allergen, and can cause hives, itching and lip or facial swelling. Ê This test looks for IgE reactions to the following foods and substances that can be inhaled: Grass Mix: Cocksfoot Meadow Fescue Meadow Rye Timothy Weed Mix: Common Ragweed Giant Ragweed Western Ragweed Dust Mix: Blatella germanica Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus Dermatophagoides farinae Hollister-Stier Labs Mould Mix: A.alternata Aspergillus fumigatus Candida albicans Cladosporium herbarum Helminthosporium halodes Penicillium notatum Tree Mix: Box Elder Common Silver Birch Hazel Oak London Plane Maple Sycamore Single Allergens: Beef Bermuda Grass Cat Dander Clam Common Silver Birch Cows Milk Crab Dog Dander Egg White Egg Yolk Fish (Cod) Hazel Nut Horse Dander Latex Nettle Peanut Shrimp/Prawn Soya Bean Wheat
Immunoglobulin E Immunoglobulins or antibodies, play an important role in the immune system and help fight against harmful bacteria and viruses in the body. There are five classes of antibodies and several subclasses. In those that have an allergy, their immune system overreacts to a harmless allergen (such as food, grass or animal dander) by producing IgE. This reaction usually causes irritation to the nose, lungs, throat and skin. The allergen-specific IgE antibody test is used to check for an allergy to a specific allergen. It measures the amount of IgE antibody in the blood targeted for a suspected allergen.