Allergy test at home – choosing the right test

Sneezing every spring, itchy eyes when visiting friends with a cat or an itchy mouth after eating a certain fruit – allergies show up in many ways. An allergy test can tell you whether your body has formed antibodies to a particular substance. Here we explain how the tests work, which test suits your symptoms and what the result means.

What does an allergy test measure?

In allergy, the immune system reacts to something that is actually harmless, such as pollen, furry animals or a food. The body may then form antibodies of the IgE type. A blood allergy test measures these antibodies in two ways:

• Specific IgE shows whether you have antibodies to a particular allergen, such as birch pollen or peanut. This is how our lab tests work.
• Total IgE is the total amount of IgE in the blood. The value says something about allergic activity in the body, but not what you are reacting to.

Good to know: Detectable IgE means that you are sensitised. That is not automatically the same as being allergic – the result always needs to be weighed against your symptoms and what you have actually been exposed to.

What does a lab test show?

To find out what you are reacting to, you need a lab test that measures specific IgE to each allergen. You can choose a targeted test based on your symptoms or a broader test that analyses many allergens in the same sample.

You take a capillary blood sample from your fingertip at home and send it to a medical laboratory accredited to ISO 15189. You get a measured value for each allergen in the test, and the result is delivered digitally to your personal health portal.

Which allergy test suits your symptoms?

Start from when and where you get symptoms. You can find all the tests under Allergy & intolerance.

Symptoms in spring and summer

A runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes that come back at the same time every year often point to pollen allergy. Birch pollen is one of the most common causes in northern and central Europe, but alder and hazel flower as early as late winter, and grass pollen takes over in late spring and early summer.

• Pollen allergy – birch, timothy grass, mugwort, alder and hazel.
• Rye and weed pollen allergy – rye, wall pellitory and ragweed.
• Mediterranean pollen allergy – olive, ash, plane and cypress, for example if you live in southern Europe or get symptoms when travelling there.

Symptoms all year round or indoors

If you have a blocked nose, sneeze or cough regardless of the season, the cause may be in your immediate surroundings.

• House dust mite allergy – the two most common house dust mites, which thrive in bedding, mattresses and textiles.
• Cat and dog allergy – cat and dog in the same test. Cat allergen spreads easily through the air and stays in textiles for a long time.
• Indoor allergens – house dust mites and cockroach.
• Mould allergy – Cladosporium, Alternaria and Aspergillus. Mould spores are found both outdoors and indoors, and outdoor moulds often cause symptoms in late summer and autumn. Mould allergy Plus also analyses Penicillium.

Reactions to food

An itchy mouth, swelling, hives or stomach problems shortly after a meal can be signs of food allergy.

• Nut allergy – peanut and hazelnut.
• Milk and egg allergy – milk and egg white.
• Fish and shellfish allergy – cod, shrimp and salmon. If you only react to shellfish, there is Shellfish allergy, which analyses shrimp and tropomyosin.
• Wheat and gluten allergy – wheat and gliadin. The Plus version also analyses omega-5-gliadin.
• Sesame, soya and mustard allergy.
• Fruit allergy – apple, peach and kiwi. For vegetables, there is Vegetable allergy with carrot, celery and bell pepper.
• Alpha-gal (meat allergy) – an allergy to red meat that usually develops after tick bites. The reaction often comes three to six hours after the meal.

Many people with birch pollen allergy get an itchy mouth from foods such as apple or hazelnut. This is called cross-reactivity and happens because the proteins are similar.

Latex

If you get itching, redness or a rash after contact with rubber gloves or balloons, our Latex allergy test may be an option.

Not sure where to start?

• Airborne allergy – six common airborne allergen sources: birch, timothy grass, cat, dog and two house dust mites.
• Allergy Test Plus – eight common allergens, both airborne and food.
• Comprehensive Allergy Test – around 300 allergens and allergen components plus total IgE, for a broad overview.

How sampling works

1. You receive a sampling kit at home with instructions and return packaging.
2. You prick your fingertip and fill a small tube with blood.
3. You send the sample to the laboratory on the same day. Ideally, take the sample between Monday and Wednesday so that it is not left lying over the weekend.
4. The result is delivered digitally to your health portal when the analysis is complete.

The lab tests are intended for adults aged 18 and over. You will find step-by-step instructions for your test on the Instructions page.

How to interpret the result

The result shows a measured value for each allergen in the test. An elevated value means that you have formed IgE antibodies to the substance – in other words, that you are sensitised.

If this matches your symptoms – for example, you sneeze in spring and have antibodies to birch – it suggests an allergy. If you have an elevated value but no symptoms when you are exposed to the substance, it need not mean anything in everyday life. It is a good idea to discuss the result with a doctor, especially before you cut foods out of your diet.

A negative result means that no IgE antibodies were detected to the substances in the test. It does not rule out symptoms that have other causes, such as lactose intolerance.

Allergy or intolerance?

The two words are often confused. In allergy, it is the immune system that reacts. In lactose intolerance, the body has too little of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down milk sugar – this does not show up in an allergy test.

Coeliac disease, often called gluten intolerance, is an autoimmune disease that is measured with other antibodies, such as antibodies to tissue transglutaminase. Keep eating gluten as usual before being tested for it, otherwise the result may be misleading.

When should you seek medical care?

Call 112 in the event of a severe reaction, such as swelling of the face or throat, breathing difficulties, dizziness or widespread hives. Contact your doctor if your asthma gets worse, if your symptoms affect your everyday life or if you are unsure what your result means. An allergy test does not replace a medical assessment.

Frequently asked questions

Do antihistamines affect a blood allergy test?

No. Antihistamines do not affect the measurement of IgE in the blood, so you do not need to stop taking your medicine before the test. They do, however, affect skin prick tests, which are carried out by a doctor.

Can I test for several allergies at the same time?

Yes. Airborne allergy, Allergy Test Plus and the Comprehensive Allergy Test analyse several allergens in the same sample. If you already suspect a particular substance, a more targeted test is often enough.

How quickly will I get my result?

The lab tests are analysed at the laboratory, and the result appears in your health portal when the analysis is complete.

Do I need to have symptoms when I take the test?

No. The IgE antibodies that the lab tests measure usually remain in the blood between seasons, so you can take the tests at any time of year.