Food allergy test

What is a food allergy test and how do they work?

Immunoglobulins and antibodies normally help your immune system fight against bacteria and viruses. In some people, however, the immune system may overreact to normally harmless allergens, such as food, and produce immunoglobulin E (IgE), causing irritation to the nose, lungs, throat and skin. This specific IgE antibody test will provide results for your total IgE as well as for Codfish, Cow’s milk, Egg white, Egg yolk, Kiwi, Peanut, Sesame, Soya and Wheat IgE-related allergies.

How to choose the best food allergy test kit for your needs

When choosing a food allergy test kit, you should consider how the sample is taken, how safe the test is, turnaround times for your results and how expensive the test is.

How reliable are food allergy test results?

At-home food sensitivity test kits have limited accuracy. 50–60% of positive results will identify proteins that are not actually causing an allergic reaction. However, home tests are about 95% accurate for negative results. If necessary, an oral food challenge will confirm any foods that are causing a problem.

How can you tell when to take a food allergy test?

The Food Allergy test is used for an initial investigation if you have allergy symptoms, such as hives, swelling of your lips or face, bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting, or skin rashes, which develop quickly after being exposed to specific allergens. In more extreme cases, food allergies can cause severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, which requires immediate medical attention.

 Frequently asked questions about food allergy tests

What are the common food allergy tests available in the UK?

Common food allergy tests in the UK include the:

• Skin prick test
• Radioallergosorbent test (RAST)
• Open food challenge: The suspected food allergen is introduced in small amounts. First with the skin, eye or lip, and then the mouth. This test is closely supervised and stopped if an adverse reaction occurs
• Blood test

What is the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance?

The difference between food allergies and food intolerances is that food allergies affect the immune system, while food intolerances don’t. A food allergy is an allergic reaction to a usually harmless food, while a food intolerance is a reaction to a food that occurs when the body has difficulty digesting it or the food irritates the digestive system. Food intolerances can be caused by gluten, histamine, and caffeine. Symptoms include nausea, cramps, stomach pain, diarrhoea and headaches. Your healthcare provider can carry out food allergy or food intolerance tests to determine if you have a food allergy or food intolerance.

What should I do if I suspect my child has a food allergy?

If you think your child has a food allergy, you should speak to a GP, paediatrician, health visitor, or dietitian. Your child may need a referral for either a blood test, skin-prick test, oral food challenge, or trial elimination diet.