Allergy Blood Test

About allergies

Allergies affect the lives of up to 41 million people in the UK, and allergic disease has been described as a ‘modern epidemic’ by the World Health Organisation. Between 5 and 8 per cent of children in the UK live with a food allergy.

Allergies are most common in children, but they can occur at any age and run in families – if you have an allergy, one of your parents likely had an allergy too.

There are many kinds of allergies, from food, which is the most widely recognised, to skin, respiratory, eyes, drugs and venom allergies. While allergy reactions in most people will be mild to moderate, they can be fatal in anaphylaxis.

Allergy symptoms can make you feel awful. It can make it difficult for you to function at work or school and affect daily activities with your friends and family. Ongoing allergy can also be linked to asthma.

What causes allergies?

Things that cause allergic reactions are called allergens. The causes of allergies are unknown, but research continues into what lies behind the increase across the modern world. 

Common allergens include:

• tree and grass pollen (hay fever)

• house dust mites

• foods, such as peanuts, milk and eggs (food allergy)

• animal fur, particularly from pets like cats and dogs

• insect stings, such as bee and wasp stings

• certain medicines

When will I receive my results?

After your appointment, we will send your blood sample to our partner lab on the same day. The lab will analyse the sample, and results will be sent to you via email within 5 to 7 working days from your appointment date.