What can I expect from this Allergy Complete - 295 allergens tested?
Allergies affect around one in four of the general population. Many allergic patients do not take their allergy seriously and are suffering from subsequent complications, e.g. hay fever, allergic asthma or are subject to unnecessary dietary restrictions.
This test can check for close to 300 relevant allergen sources (except drug allergens, such as penicillin). We have the most comprehensive panel in the UK which also tests for molecular allergens, which allows for a comprehensive understanding of allergic cross-reactions and a risk assessment of food allergies (to allow for tailormade dietary recommendations). Likewise, allergen-specific immunotherapy can be directed against the main trigger (available for pollen, house dust mites and insect venoms) of symptoms.
An allergy is not the same as a less serious food intolerance which is difficulty digesting certain foods and having an unpleasant physical reaction to them. This can be genetic and mostly mediated by IgG (not IgE which is measured in this allergy test).
Please note that currently these tests run with a 3 to 5 working days turnaround.
What is an allergy?
Allergy is a commonly used term to describe a misguided reaction of the immune system. The term allergy itself is a combination of the Greek words for unknown and reaction.
During an allergic reaction the immune system is triggered by harmless substances (e.g pollen, mite particles, etc.), which leads to symptoms like itchy eyes, rhinitis or in rare cases life-threatening reactions (anaphylactic shock). Antibodies of the IgE class play a pivotal role in the development of immediate type allergies.
IgE is an antibody and is produced by your body to fight foreign bodies such as infections. In allergic individuals IgE is misdirected to fight harmless substances like pollens or house dust mite particles etc. This test looks for elevated levels of IgE which causes Type I allergies.
What allergens do you test for?
We test for a range of allergens including pollens, mites, moulds & yeasts, plant and animal based foods, insects & venom, pets & animals, and other common allergens like latex. Please see the table below for the full list of allergens.
FISH & SEAFOOD
Anisakis simplex, Atlantic cod, Atlantic herring, Atlantic mackerel, Black tiger shrimp, Brown shrimp, Carp, Common mussel, Crab, Lobster, Northern prawn, Oyster, Salmon, Scallop, Shrimp mix, Squid, Swordfish, Thornback ray, Tuna, Venus clam
MEAT
Beef, Chicken, Horse, House cricket, Lamb, Mealworm, Migratory locust, Pork, Rabbit, Turkey
MOULDS & YEASTS
Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Baker's yeast, Cladosporium herbarum, Malassezia sympodialis, Penicilium chrysogenum
TREE POLLENS
Acacia, Alder, Arizona cypress, Ash, Beech pollen, Cottonwood, Cypress, Date Palm, Elm, Hazel, London plane tree, Mountain cedar, Mulberry tree, Olive, Paper mulberry, Silver birch, Sugi pollen, Tree of heaven, Walnut, Weeping fig
WEED POLLENS
Annual mercury pollen, Cannabis (CBD), Hemp, Lamb's quarter, Mugwort, Nettle, Pigweed, Ragweed, Ribwort, Russian thistle, Wall pellitory
MITES
Acarus Siro, American house dust mite, Blomia tropicalis, European house dust mite, Glycyphagus domesticus, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Tyrophagus putrescentiae
GRASS POLLENS
Bahia grass, Bermuda grass, Common reed, Perennial ryegrass, Rye, Timothy grass
MILK
Camel's milk, Cow's milk, Goat's milk, Mare's milk, Sheep's milk
FRUIT
Apple, Banana, Blueberry, Cherry, Fig, Grape, Kiwi, Mango, Melon, Orange, Papaya, Peach, Pear, Strawberry
INSECTS & VENOMS
American Cockroach, Bee, Common wasp venom, Fire Ant, German Cockroach, Honey bee venom, Long-headed wasp venom, Paper wasp venom
PETS & ANIMALS
Cat, Cattle, Djungarian hamster, Dog, Goat, Guinea pig, Horse, Mouse, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Sheep
CEREALS & SEEDS
Barley, Buckwheat, Corn flour, Corn, cereal, Cultivated rye, Fenugreek seed, Lupine seed, Millet, Oat, Poppy seed, Pumpkin seed, Quinoa, Rice, Sesame, Spelt, Sunflower seed, Wheat flour
EGG
Egg white, Egg yolk
LEGUMES & NUTS
Almond, Brazil nut, Cashew, Chickpea, Hazel nut, Lentil, Macadamia, Pea, Peanut, Pecan, Pistachio, Soy, Walnut, White bean
SPICES
Anise, Caraway, Mustard, Oregano, Paprika, Parsley
VEGETABLES
Avocado, Carrot, Celery, Garlic, Onion, Potato, Tomato