If you have a food allergy it is essential that you identify
it as soon as possible so that you can avoid problem foods.
Food allergy testing is the only way to identify a food
allergy. Once you are aware of your food allergies, you can
ensure that you do not eat the foods which are harmful to your
body.
If you are allergic to certain foods your immune system releases
large doses of chemicals when they are eaten to protect your
body from them. The problem is that these chemicals produce a
variety of symptoms that can be severe and sometimes, life
threatening.
Food allergies can be identified by carrying out food allergy
testing. However, there are only 90 NHS allergy clinics in
the UK. This means that if you want food allergy testing on the
NHS , you might have to wait a long time. Therefore, you might
want to arrange food allergy testing privately. If so, you have
two main options:
Food Allergy Skin Prick Test
A food allergy skin prick test uses a small needle to gently
prick the skin through fluid containing a known allergen to see
how it reacts to it. If you have a food allergy, your skin will
go red and itchy and a small white swelling will develop. This
will fade within a matter of hours.
The food allergy skin prick test provides a clear "yes or no"
result as to whether or not you have a food allergy. It is not
painful and the results are generally available very quickly.
Food Allergy Blood Test
The food allergy blood test allows you to analysis your reaction
to over 400 different allergens.
It involves a sample of your blood being taken and sent to a
laboratory where it is tested for levels of IgE. IgE triggers
the release of histamines into the bloodstream when the body is
exposed to a food or substance which it is allergic to.
You can find places where you can have food allergy testing by
searching on the internet or alternatively by asking your doctor
for a recommendation.
About the author:
Elizabeth Harfleet is a Manchester nutritionist specialising in
food allergy testing
