Allergy Advance blood test
Allergy Advance measures total IgE and specific IgE to 17 allergens: the 8 in Allergy Essential plus cod, shrimp, hazelnut, sesame, soya, egg yolk, dog dander, a second house dust mite and mugwort pollen. It costs £199 at The Vesey, Sutton Coldfield, from one blood sample.
What Allergy Advance tests
Total IgE, plus specific IgE to each of these allergens.
- Cat epithelium and dander
- Dog epithelium
- House dust mite (D. pteronyssinus)
- Egg white
- Milk
- Peanut
- Silver birch pollen
- Timothy grass pollen
- Dog dander
- House dust mite (D. farinae)
- Egg yolk
- Cod
- Shrimp
- Hazelnut
- Sesame seed
- Soya bean
- Mugwort pollen
Who it may suit
Adds cod, shrimp, hazelnut, sesame and soya, which are among the 14 major food allergens in UK food labelling.
Tests both common house dust mite species and dog dander as well as dog epithelium.
Adds mugwort, a weed pollen that can cause symptoms after the grass season.
Want moulds, yeasts and a wider range of foods and pollens? Allergy Executive tests 63 allergens for £399.
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 Allergy Advance
- 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. 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.
Allergy Advance FAQs
What does Allergy Advance test for?
Total IgE plus specific IgE to 17 allergens: cat epithelium and dander, dog epithelium, dog dander, both common house dust mites, egg white, egg yolk, milk, peanut, hazelnut, sesame seed, soya bean, cod, shrimp, silver birch, timothy grass and mugwort.
How much is Allergy Advance?
£199, 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.