Allergy Testing

bluenose5_2

Hi,Were does one go for an Allergy Test, Beside my own GP, Will pay to go Private,anyone had it done ?

Toothsmith

'Allergy testing' is a magnet for quacks and charlatans.

Is it a proper allergy you think you have? In which case your own doctor should be the starting point, or is it a 'new age-y' sort of allergy in which case there will be plenty of aging hippies out there willing to take enormous amounts of money off you and then sell you 'magic beans' that will cure you.

Beware.

Nile

bluenose5 wrote: »

Hi,Were does one go for an Allergy Test, Beside my own GP, Will pay to go Private,anyone had it done ?

Me.;)

I've had allergy testing done. The process was:

• I went to my GP with symptoms
• I was prescribed medicines and took them as directed
• My symptoms were not alleviated, so I went back to my GP
• GP did a blood test to see if I have an allergy
• The blood tests confirmed (what I knew) that I'm allergic to a substance
• GP referred me to the hospital
• I had skin prik (if I spell this word correctly it will appear as !!!) testing on my arm to test for allergies and another blood test
• The tests confirmed that I am allergic
• The consultant gave me treatment which worked:j

The above process took a very long time and perseverence on my part. I believe that there are only a few immunology clinics in the UK, so it can be difficult to be referred.

Food intolerances are not the same as allergies.;)

birduk

Had one myself this morning! Turns out I am not even allergic to the control sample I should be....

Yup, GP- Hospital (Consultant) and lots of tooing and froing!

GustyGardenGalaxy

Hope its okay to bump this thread - I too would like to be tested for allergies but want it to be:

a) Quick and relatively hassle free (so that rules out the NHS!)
b) Accurate

Any ideas please? I don't mind getting this done privately but naturally don't want to be ripped off and given 'results' that are a load of hogwash.

j.e.j.

Some private hospitals and healthcare providers have GPs and dieticians. Maybe google your local Nuffield or BUPA hospital?

brook2jack

This website has a list of private, accredited allergy specialists http://www.allergyuk.org/getting-help/getting-help

a couple of Nuffield hospitals offer patch testing etc for a fixed price http://www.allergyuk.org/getting-help/nuffield-allergy-services

As ts said it's a magnet for quacks and the UK is very underprovided with allergy specialists.

Hopefully you are not confusing allergy which is a potentially life threatening condition with food intolerance which is an entirely different problem and would involve different diagnosis methods.

GustyGardenGalaxy

Thanks for the links.