Persistent rhinitis, suspected food allergy, recurrent urticaria (hives), reactions to insect stings or medications — assessed by a GMC-registered GP, with specific IgE blood testing through The Doctors Laboratory (TDL) where clinically indicated. We focus on the tests that actually mean something, and onward referral to consultant allergy/immunology when your case calls for it.
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. Severe reaction with swelling, breathing difficulty, throat tightness, collapse or known anaphylaxis to a specific trigger — use your adrenaline pen if you have one and call 999. The Royal London A&E is 5 minutes from us. Don't book an outpatient allergy appointment if this is happening right now.
Allergy testing is most useful when the test is matched to a clinical history. A high IgE result against, say, peanut, in someone with no reaction history may mean very little. A low IgE result in someone with a clear anaphylactic history may still need specialist input. Tests don't replace clinical judgement — they support it. Here's what we offer.
Specific IgE blood testing for common food allergens — cow's milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame, kiwi, and others. Panels chosen based on your symptom history rather than blanket "test everything" approach.
Tree, grass and weed pollens; house dust mite; mould spores; cat, dog and other animal danders. Useful for persistent allergic rhinitis (hayfever), allergic asthma, or unexplained eczema flares with seasonal pattern.
Bee and wasp venom IgE for those with severe reaction history to stings. Antibiotic and drug allergy IgE testing where clinically appropriate — though drug allergy diagnosis often needs specialist input (challenge testing, patch testing).
Total IgE provides a global picture of atopic tendency. Tryptase is useful in suspected mast cell disorders or as part of anaphylaxis investigation. Both interpreted alongside clinical context.
For specific allergens (peanut, hazelnut, milk, egg), component-level IgE testing can clarify whether a sensitisation is likely to cause systemic reactions or remain limited to oral symptoms. Useful in selected food allergy cases.
Often the most useful part of the appointment. A careful history, a clear pattern timeline, identifying what to avoid, what to challenge, what's likely worth testing, and what isn't. Some patients leave without any blood test — with a clear plan instead.
All blood testing is processed through The Doctors Laboratory (TDL), one of the largest UK private pathology providers. Specific IgE testing uses the ImmunoCAP system — the standard methodology used by NHS allergy services and recommended by the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI). Results are reviewed in a follow-up consultation with a clear plan rather than just a list of numbers.
Allergy workup is a process, not a one-off test. Here's how a typical case progresses through our clinic.
A 30-minute appointment to take a detailed history — what happens, when, how quickly, in what context, with what severity. Often the most clinically useful step. Some patterns are recognisable without testing (classic seasonal hayfever, contact urticaria to a known trigger); others need investigation.
Where testing adds value, we agree the specific allergens to test based on your history. A blood sample is taken on-site and sent to TDL for ImmunoCAP-based specific IgE analysis. We don't run blanket "test everything" panels — the test is only as useful as the clinical match.
A follow-up consultation to interpret results in clinical context. Positive results are matched to history and severity. Treatment plans typically cover avoidance, symptomatic medication (antihistamines, nasal sprays, eye drops, asthma medications), allergy action plans, and adrenaline auto-injectors where appropriate.
Some cases need consultant allergy/immunology input — suspected anaphylaxis, drug allergy needing challenge testing, allergen immunotherapy ("desensitisation") for severe hayfever or venom allergy, occupational allergy investigation, or complex food allergy in children. We refer to NHS or private allergy specialists with a clear summary letter.
Anaphylaxis — sudden multi-system reaction with airway involvement, severe breathing difficulty, collapse, or wheeze — needs NHS consultant allergy / immunology referral, not an outpatient blood test. The NHS has fast-track pathways for anaphylaxis investigation including specialist input, skin-prick testing, food challenges where needed, and adrenaline auto-injector provision. We can help you navigate this pathway — book a consultation to discuss, but be aware that comprehensive anaphylaxis workup is generally best done in a hospital-based allergy clinic.
Full pricing for all consultations, procedures and reports is published on our price list. We do not charge separate appointment fees on top of quoted prices, and all costs are confirmed before any test, procedure or report is started.
Blood tests: no — specific IgE testing in blood is not affected by antihistamines. You can continue your usual medications.
Skin-prick testing: yes — antihistamines must be stopped 3–5 days before skin-prick testing, as they suppress the skin response. We don't perform skin-prick testing in this clinic; if your case calls for it, we'll refer to a specialist allergy service and they'll advise on therapy washout.
Children with suspected allergy are usually best seen by our paediatric service first — Dr Velitchkova has extensive experience with children's allergies and can decide whether blood testing is appropriate or whether referral to a paediatric allergy specialist is the right next step.
For older children (12+) with straightforward symptoms (seasonal hayfever, single-trigger food reactions), we can run IgE testing in our adult clinic with parental consent. Complex paediatric allergy — multiple foods, suspected anaphylaxis, allergic march concerns — goes via paediatrics.
A true allergy is an immune-mediated reaction — typically IgE-mediated, with rapid onset (minutes to a couple of hours), and characteristic features like hives, swelling, breathing difficulty, vomiting. These are what specific IgE testing is designed to investigate.
An intolerance (for example lactose intolerance, FODMAP-related bloating, caffeine sensitivity) is not immune-mediated and typically has slower-onset, often gut-related symptoms. There isn't a reliable blood test for non-IgE intolerances — the most useful approach is a structured elimination-and-reintroduction diet, sometimes with dietitian support. We can help you think this through at consultation, but we won't run tests that don't have a clinical evidence base.
Usually yes, once we've identified the diagnosis and you've a written summary of our findings. With your consent we write to your NHS GP requesting shared care — they typically continue NHS-priced prescriptions for licensed antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops long-term. For adrenaline auto-injectors specifically, both NHS and private treatments are available depending on your circumstances.
You're welcome to bring them, but we'll talk you through the clinical limitations. IgG food sensitivity testing isn't recommended by BSACI, EAACI (European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology), AAAAI (American academy) or the NHS — the consensus is that high IgG levels against food are a normal response to eating that food, not a marker of intolerance or disease. We'd typically suggest setting those results aside and starting with a fresh symptom-history workup.
Most allergy consultations are available within the same week. For urgent concerns (recent severe reaction, new-onset facial swelling, suspected drug reaction) call 020 7916 0029 and we'll try to fit you in sooner. For active anaphylaxis or rapidly progressive symptoms, A&E is the right place — not us.
This is a relatively common scenario — "idiopathic" reactions where no clear trigger was identified. We'd take a careful history of the reaction, the meal and environment beforehand, and any subsequent suspected episodes. Testing can sometimes narrow this down, but a one-off historical event without further reactions often remains "cause unknown" even after testing.
If you've had a confirmed anaphylactic-grade reaction — especially recent — we'd usually advise NHS consultant allergy referral rather than starting with us. They have the resources for more comprehensive workup including skin-prick, challenge testing and dedicated long-term care.
No — skin-prick testing and food challenge testing require a setting with full resuscitation capability and specialist allergy expertise. We refer to NHS or private allergy clinics for these. London has excellent specialist services (Royal Brompton, Guy's, St Mary's). We provide a clear summary letter and IgE results to support the referral.
Immunotherapy — subcutaneous or sublingual desensitisation, typically used for severe hayfever, dust mite allergy or insect venom allergy — is delivered in specialist allergy clinics over a course of months to years. We don't provide immunotherapy here, but can refer you with a workup summary if your symptoms are severe enough to warrant it. The decision is usually shared between you and a consultant allergist after IgE testing.
If your clinical history suggests you're at risk of anaphylaxis — previous airway involvement, known anaphylactic reaction, severe asthma plus food allergy — we'd prescribe an adrenaline auto-injector (EpiPen, Jext or Emerade) and train you in its use. We always recommend having two on you at all times. If you're in this category, NHS allergy referral for full anaphylaxis management is also strongly recommended; we'd typically arrange both.
If something is happening — rashes you can't explain, persistent rhinitis, a reaction to a food or medication — book a consultation. We'll take a proper history, test what's worth testing, and give you a clear plan.
See full pricing on our price list