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