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Allergies can be life-changing and disrupt your daily life, especially if you have symptoms like itching, sneezing, swelling, and vomiting, and do not know what is causing it. Discover answers to your symptoms and find out whether you have any specific allergies with a simple health test.

An allergy is when the body’s immune system considers a substance or particles (like for example pollen) ‘harmful’ and responds by producing a reaction. These reactions are typically symptoms that include sneezing, itching, swelling, vomiting and diahieroa. Even though the substances are not actually harmful to the body, the body reacts like it is, and produces symptoms that can impact on daily life and in serious cases cause life-threatening consequences.

The 10 most common allergies include food intolerances, animal fur, pollen, mould, dust mites, latex, insect stings, certain medications, cockroaches, and perfumes/household chemicals.

What are the most common symptoms of Allergies? 

• sneezing and an itchy, runny or blocked nose
• itchy, red, watering eyes
• wheezing or chest tightness,
• shortness of breath and a cough.
• a raised, itchy, red rash
• swollen lips, tongue, eyes or face.
• tummy pain and feeling sick,
• vomiting
• diarrhoea

How do I get tested for Allergies?

A simple blood test can provide information and answers on what you may be allergic to, or what is causing your symptoms. If you consistently suffer from rashes, swelling or hives after eating a certain food, or being in contact with a specific substance, take control by having an allergy health test and discover the answers to your symptoms.

The blood test will identify Immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated allergy reactions to a range of common allergens in the UK. It will also check the total level of IgE, which is typically raised in people with an IgE mediated allergy.

Other allergens that are tested for with the blood allergy health test are:

• Food allergens: Cows Milk, Soya Bean, Peanut, Wheat, Egg White, Cod
• Grass allergens: Rye, Meadow, Cocksfoot, Meadow Fescue, Timothy
• Animal allergens: Cat Dander, Dog Dander, House Dust Mite,
• Other allergens: Latex, Cladosporium Herbarum

Key points:

• Allergies can be life-changing and common symptoms include itching, sneezing, swelling, and vomiting.
• An allergy is when the body’s immune system considers a substance or particles (like for example pollen) ‘harmful’ and responds by producing a reaction.
• If you consistently suffer from rashes, swelling or hives after eating a certain food, or being in contact with a specific substance, take control by having an allergy health test and discover the answers to your symptoms.

How a Sample is Taken

With most health tests, there are two options for taking a sample of blood, which is used to test for certain biomarkers. The two most common options are a finger-prick or venous draw:

Finger prick Draw:
Health Tests that take blood via the ‘finger-prick’ method are usually done within the comfort of your own home, enabling you to take a small amount of blood discreetly and conveniently when you want to.  

Venous Draw:
Once you have booked your health test, you’ll be sent the blood kit which includes all the equipment needed for a professional blood draw by an experienced healthcare professional, with clinics available across the UK to take your sample.

Details about which option is available for this health test, are available when you compare the results.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How severe is an allergy?

  Allergies are unpleasant and can cause plenty of symptoms, from mild headaches and a runny nose to more disrupting symptoms like vomiting and diarrhoea. Allergies can affect everyday life, and impact on your both your health, mental health, and overall well-being. Allergies can also range in severity, which is why it’s important to get yourself checked so you can have the answers to any persistent or constant symptoms.

• Is a sore throat a symptom of an allergy?

  Yes, some allergies can cause the symptom of a sore throat and is often accompanied by other symptoms like a headache and a runny nose. These symptoms are produced by the body as a response to the allergen, which it considers to be harmful to the body. Whilst the allergen, whether pollen or pet hair, is not toxic to the body, your immune system thinks otherwise and releases chemicals into the bloodstream called histamines. It’s these histamines that produces the symptoms in your body.

• Can allergies be cured?

  Most allergies cannot not cured and removed completely, but mild allergic reactions can usually be treated with home remedies and medications. More chronic and serious allergies will need treatment and guidance from a medical professional at how they can be managed.

• What are the symptoms of allergies?

  Common symptoms of allergies include sneezing and an itchy, runny or blocked nose, itchy, red, watering eyes, wheezing or chest tightness, shortness of breath and a cough, a raised, itchy, red rash, swollen lips, tongue, eyes or face, tummy pain and feeling sick, vomiting and diarrhoea.

• Is it possible to be allergic to grass?

  Yes, it is very common for people to be allergic to grass and the pollen in the grass seed. Common grass-related allergies include Rye, Meadow, Cocksfoot, Meadow Fescue and Timothy. Symptoms to grass allergies include a runny nose, stuffiness and sneezing, asthma, and itchy watery, sometimes red eyes. Other symptoms include skin rashes after contact and exposure to grasses.