NHS Allergy testing?

[FionaGFG]

Has anyone had NHS allergy testing for you or your child after diagnosis? What did it involve & did it help you?

[LilacPrincess]

Hi Fiona,

I personally have not, but would love to, am convinced there is more going on that gluten, wheat, dairy & eggs with me!

I found out my 'intolerances' by using York Food Testing Lab. I fully appreciate that there are very mixed views on intolerance testing by labs, but for me, it pointed me in the right direction - cost £250 though!!

On another note, my son had a reaction to a peanut butter sandwich at about 2.5yrs, he is not Coeliac. He got tested through the NHS, but due to the seriousness of a possible reaction, testing is done through exposure and very closely monitored. IE he had a canula in the back of his hand, ready for adrenaline to be given if need be. He had an anaphylactic reaction, so diagnosis given. I guess such a serious reaction makes for a clear diagnosis!

I can recall when I was a child a friend of mine had skin scrape testing done, no idea if this is still done by the NHS, can't see why it wouldn't be. (I work at a vet's and we use this form of testing for dogs with suspect allergies.) It involves 'patch testing' on an area of skin. The skin surface is scratched and a solution of egg, grass, tree pollen (what ever) etc etc is placed over each individual scratch. If there is an allergy the area of skin swells.

xx

[jackieO]

I had some allergy testing at my local hospital last month. I went about going deaf but the ENT bod who saw me was impress3ed with my recurrent nosebleeds and chronic cough so sent me for testing. I had the inside of the arm skin prick test done which was a little uncomfortable. A grid is drawn on your arm and known common allergens in liquid form are dropped into each sqaure then a lancet is used to pierce the skin to induce a reaction. You also have 2 control blocks done of histamine (very itchy) and a non reactive liquid.

I showed a mild reaction to late tree pollen which I found unsurprising and had minimal response to all the others. No foods were tested; they only looked for inhaled type of allergens in my case.