Description
What can a blood test tell you about your general health?
Allergies and Food intolerances (1 Biomarkers)
Allergies and food intolerances affect millions of people a year. Many allergic patients do not take their allergy or intolerances seriously and are suffering from subsequent complications. Testing can significantly help you understand your body’s reactions to allergens and food.
Allergy
This home test is the UK’s most comprehensive allergy panel with 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 home and in-store test allows you to fully understand all your allergies to help you to reduce the impact of allergies on your life.
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. Please see our food intolerance test if you are concerned that you may be intolerant to a certain food types (coming soon).
Whether pollen, mites, furry animals, insect venoms, moulds and yeasts, nuts, food or latex this test will allow you and your family to fully explore and understand all your allergies.
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.
| GRASS POLLENS
Bahia grass, Bermuda grass, Common reed, Perennial ryegrass, Rye, Timothy grass |
MOULDS & YEASTS
Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Baker’s yeast, Cladosporium herbarum, Malassezia sympodialis, Penicilium chrysogenum |
FRUIT
Apple, Banana, Blueberry, Cherry, Fig, Grape, Kiwi, Mango, Melon, Orange, Papaya, Peach, Pear, Strawberry |
EGG
Egg white, Egg yolk MILK Camel’s milk, Cow’s milk, Goat’s milk, Mare’s milk, Sheep’s milk |
| 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 |
INSECTS & VENOMS
American Cockroach, Bee, Common wasp venom, Fire Ant, German Cockroach, Honey bee venom, Long-headed wasp venom, Paper wasp venom |
LEGUMES & NUTS
Almond, Brazil nut, Cashew, Chickpea, Hazel nut, Lentil, Macadamia, Pea, Peanut, Pecan, Pistachio, Soy, Walnut, White bean |
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 |
| WEED POLLENS
Annual mercury pollen, Cannabis (CBD), Hemp, Lamb’s quarter, Mugwort, Nettle, Pigweed, Ragweed, Ribwort, Russian thistle, Wall pellitory |
PETS & ANIMALS
Cat, Cattle, Djungarian hamster, Dog, Goat, Guinea pig, Horse, Mouse, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Sheep |
SPICES
Anise, Caraway, Mustard, Oregano, Paprika, Parsley |
MEAT
Beef, Chicken, Horse, House cricket, Lamb, Mealworm, Migratory locust, Pork, Rabbit, Turkey |
| MITES
Acarus siro, American house dust mite, Blomia tropicalis, European house dust mite, Glycyphagus domesticus, Lepidoglyphus destructor, Tyrophagus putrescentiae |
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 |
VEGETABLES
Avocado, Carrot, Celery, Garlic, Onion, Potato, Tomato |
OTHER
CCD, Ficus & Hops, Latex, Pigeon tick |
What will be tested?
- ELISA-based IgE multiplex test of 295 allergens from only a finger prick sample of blood
- 117 extracts & 178 molecular allergens
- 50+ unique molecular allergens
- Total IgE included
How Do The Blood Tests Work?
There is no better way to check for underlying health problems, or monitor existing conditions, than with a blood test. From our dedicated, state-of-the-art laboratory in London we offer the latest in pathology testing solutions across many disciplines including biochemistry, immunology, haematology, sexual health screening and molecular biology.
Whether you are concerned about your health, managing an existing condition or simply curious, a blood test with London Medical Laboratory provides a fast, affordable and easy way to start taking charge of your own health.
We offer a range of testing options to try and make the process as simple, stress free and convenient as possible.
- Home Testing Kits – User-friendly finger-prick self-testing kits sent to you using the Royal Mail 1st Class Tracked postal service
- In-Store Phlebotomy – For even faster results you can come into one of our stores to have your blood taken by one of our qualified phlebotomists
- Mobile Phlebotomy – We can even come to you! For added convenience one of our qualified mobile phlebotomists can visit you at home or in your office
You will receive your results on the day after we receive your sample in our laboratory. We run a 24/7 laboratory operation and test all samples as quickly as possible after receiving them which enables our team of in-house GPs to review and communicate your results in the fastest possible timeframe.
*It is important to note that blood tests alone are not a substitute for seeing a doctor, particularly if you have any symptoms. You should not make a diagnosis or start any treatment without a consultation with a doctor or suitably trained healthcare professional.
