Alex 3 Allergy Explorer
The Alex 3 Allergy Explorer is a molecular allergy blood test that measures specific IgE to over 300 allergen extracts and individual allergen components, plus total IgE, from one blood sample. It costs £499 at The Vesey, Sutton Coldfield, with no referral needed.
What Alex 3 Allergy Explorer tests
Alex 3 is a multiplex array: one blood sample is tested against a very wide range of allergens at once, across these groups.
Including milk, egg, wheat, fish, shellfish, meats, fruits, vegetables and spices.
Including peanut and tree nuts, measured as whole extracts and as individual proteins.
Tree, grass and weed pollens, including the proteins that drive pollen–food cross-reactions.
Pets, farm animals and house dust and storage mites.
Common indoor and outdoor moulds.
Bee and wasp venom and natural rubber latex.
Molecular components are the individual proteins inside an allergen source. Some are linked with more severe reactions and some with milder, cross-reactive symptoms, which is why component results can add detail that a whole-allergen test cannot.
Who it may suit
Components can help tell a primary allergy from a cross-reaction, for example between birch pollen and apple or hazelnut.
One sample covers a very wide range, which suits people with many possible triggers.
Molecular detail can add context to an earlier positive result.
Looking for a simpler test? Compare all four profiles on the Allergy Testing hub.
How it works
- 1Book online
Choose a profile and pay when you book. Appointments run Tuesday to Friday at The Vesey, Sutton Coldfield.
- 2Blood sample
A trained member of our team takes a small blood sample in a 15-minute visit. There is no need to fast or stop antihistamines.
- 3Laboratory analysis
Your sample is analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory for total IgE and allergen-specific IgE.
- 4Results and next steps
A GP reviews any result outside the normal range. You can book a follow-up GP appointment to discuss your results and any referral.
What the result can and cannot tell you
Whether your immune system has made IgE antibodies to each allergen tested (sensitisation), and your total IgE level.
Whether you will react, or how severely. Sensitisation without symptoms is common, so results are always read with your history.
Food intolerance, coeliac disease, delayed (non-IgE) reactions and contact allergy such as nickel. Ask us about the right route for these.
Book Alex 3 Allergy Explorer
- 15-minute blood draw at The Vesey, Sutton Coldfield
- Analysis by a UKAS-accredited laboratory
- Any result outside the normal range reviewed by a GP
- No need to fast or stop antihistamines
- No GP referral needed
Comparing tests? See all four allergy profiles. Having other blood tests too? Add Alex 3 to a blood test booking. Questions before you book? WhatsApp us or call 0121 387 3705.
Why test with The Vesey
Your blood sample is taken by our trained team at The Vesey in Sutton Coldfield, so there is no finger-prick kit to get right at home and no risk of a sample being rejected for being too small.
A GP reviews any result outside the normal range. If something needs discussing, you can book a follow-up GP appointment here, and we can refer you to a specialist if needed.
We test for IgE, the antibody involved in true allergic reactions. We do not sell IgG “food intolerance” tests, which UK allergy specialists do not recommend for diagnosing allergy.
GP appointments, dietetics and specialist referrals sit under one roof, so a result never leaves you on your own with a report.
Alex 3 Allergy Explorer FAQs
What is the Alex 3 Allergy Explorer?
A molecular allergy blood test that measures specific IgE to over 300 allergen extracts and individual allergen components, plus total IgE, from one blood sample.
What are molecular allergen components?
The individual proteins inside an allergen source such as peanut or birch pollen. Different components are linked with different patterns of reaction, so they can add detail to a whole-allergen result.
How much is the Alex 3 Allergy Explorer?
£499, paid when you book online. The price includes the blood draw and laboratory analysis.
Do I need to stop antihistamines before an allergy blood test?
No. Antihistamines do not affect an IgE blood test, unlike skin prick testing, so you can keep taking your usual medicines. Keep eating and living as normal too: if you have avoided a food or animal for a long time, the test may be less able to pick up a sensitisation to it.
Do I need to fast?
No. You do not need to fast before an allergy blood test.
Does a positive result mean I am allergic?
Not on its own. A raised specific IgE shows sensitisation, meaning your immune system has made antibodies to that allergen. Many people are sensitised without having symptoms. A result has to be read alongside your history of reactions, which is why a GP reviews results outside the normal range.
Is this a food intolerance test?
No. These tests measure IgE, the antibody involved in true allergic reactions. Food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance, do not involve IgE and are not detected by these tests. We do not offer IgG “intolerance” tests, which UK allergy specialists do not recommend.
Who are these tests for?
Adults aged 18 and over. For a child with suspected allergies, please book a GP appointment first so that testing can be chosen around their history.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can book and pay online without a referral.
What should I do if I have a severe reaction?
Call 999 straight away if you have swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, wheeze or feel faint. Use your adrenaline auto-injector if you have one. An allergy test is not a substitute for emergency care.