Allergy Complete - 295 allergens tested

What can I expect from Allergy Complete - 295 allergens tested?

This test is the UK's most comprehensive allergy panel with 295 allergens tested. Utilising innovative microarray technology it analyses the widest range of allergens availablie in any profile - all with one blood sample. The sample can even be a finger-prick home kit, which is a remarkable advance in technology.

Allergies are caused by our immune systems getting confused between what is bad for us like bacteria and viruses, and completely harmless molecules in pollen, foods, animal danders and a very wide range of other particles in our world. Resulting in the immune system attacking us instead of defending us.

One in four of us have allergies, causing conditions like hay fever, asthma, eczema and a range of digestive problems. Anyone with an allergy knows how miserable life can be when they strike.

Sometimes the allergy can have profound unexpected affects on our lives. For example, it is estimated that during a hay-fever attack your IQ can be reduced by 5% - along with the awful way it makes you feel.

There are some allergies (anaphylactic) which if not treated urgently can cause death. Knowing what you are allergic to can transform your life as treatments are available, and if there is no treatment you at least know what to avoid.

This test analyses moelcules as well individual allergens so that it also checks for cross-reactivity between different allergens which is very important part of allergy testing.

Here are the range of categories of allergens tested for:

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

This test works as well with a finger-prick home test sample as with a phlebotomy sample from any of our nationwide locations.

What gets tested?

Allergies (1 health indicators)

An allergy is when your body's immune system reacts to something harmless as if it were a threat, leading to symptoms like sneezing, itching, or more severe reactions. This trigger, known as an allergen, can be something you eat, breathe in, inject, or touch. Common allergens include pollen, pet dander, bee venom, peanuts, and certain medications. When your body encounters an allergen, it can release chemicals like histamine, causing allergic symptoms.

Anaphylaxis is a type of allergy which is severe, potentially life-threatening and can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to an allergen.

Testing for allergies helps identify specific allergens that trigger your reactions. Knowing what you're allergic to allows you to avoid those triggers and manage your symptoms better. It also prepares you to handle severe reactions, like anaphylaxis, effectively.

In allergy testing, the primary type of antibody looked for is Immunoglobulin E (IgE). IgE is a class of antibodies produced by the immune system in response to exposure to an allergen. When someone is allergic to a substance, their immune system mistakenly identifies this harmless substance as a threat and produces IgE antibodies specific to that allergen.

These IgE antibodies bind to the surface of mast cells and basophils, which are types of cells involved in the body's immune response. Upon subsequent exposure to the allergen, these cells are triggered by the allergen-bound IgE to release histamine and other chemicals, leading to the symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as itching, swelling, and difficulty breathing.