Our environment, the food we eat and chemicals we come into contact with; can be a potent source of allergens causing a myriad of signs and symptoms such as itchy, puffy watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose or nasal congestion, as well as hives or skin rashes, in the case of skin contact. Dust, mold, pollen, household chemicals, and foods are some of the most common culprits.

An allergy is your body’s way of saying “I don’t like it” to substances which you are hypersensitive.  Allergens caused your body’s immune system to release antibodies called IgE, these antibodies in turn cause your body to produce inflammatory chemicals that are responsible for the mild or in some cases life threatening responses we see with allergic reactions.

Allergy testing can assist your doctor in determining what is causing your allergic reaction.  Blood testing tells your doctor which IgE antibody or antibodies your body is producing and therefore which allergens are likely to cause a reaction. A small sample of your blood is mixed with different allergens to look for a chemical reaction. Blood testing therefore determine how much of a specific IgE your body is producing, this helps the doctor gauge the extent of your allergy and therefore guides him/her in recommending the appropriate treatment.

Allergy testing by blood testing  have some advantages. It is more convenient, since one blood test can be used to test for many allergens. For children it also means one stick rather than multiple sticks required for skin allergy testing. Also, blood testing does not require introducing suspected allergens to the body, as skin testing does. This avoids any potential harmful reaction that may occur from exposing your body to a suspected allergen.

Click here for a list of allergy test available.

Please consult your physician for personalised medical advice and testing.