Allergy Testing Birmingham
Are you tired of waiting for answers about possible allergies or intolerances? At The Oakley Medical Practice, we offer private allergy testing in Birmingham with no waiting lists. Using the advanced ALEX3 allergy test, we can check for up to 300 allergens from a single blood sample.
The ALEX3 test measures specific IgE antibodies to identify allergies linked to foods, pollen, animal dander, moulds, insect venoms, latex and other environmental allergens.
Your blood sample is taken by our experienced nurse and analysed by our laboratory partner. Results are usually available within three working days and reviewed with one of our GPs, who can explain your results and discuss suitable management options.
Book your private allergy test in Birmingham today at the Oakley Medical Practice.
What is the ALEX3 Allergy Test?
The ALEX3 allergy test is a comprehensive blood test that checks your immune response to up to 300 allergens in one test. It uses advanced component-resolved technology to identify the specific allergen proteins causing your symptoms, helping provide a more accurate diagnosis.
Key Features:
- Total and Specific IgE testing – Measures your overall IgE levels alongside IgE antibodies against individual allergens, helping create a detailed profile of your immune response.
- Clear results interpretation – Results are presented on a sliding scale, making it easier to understand the level of reaction to each allergen.
Benefits of the ALEX3 Allergy Test
- Molecular testing – Provides a more detailed picture than standard IgG and IgE assay testing.
Helps guide personalised advice – Detailed results help you avoid unnecessary food restrictions or lifestyle changes.
Provides additional insight into allergies – Identifying specific allergen components helps healthcare professionals understand whether an allergy is likely to persist or improve.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| GP Consultation | £85 |
| ALEX3 Test | £475.00 |
Allergy Testing for Digestive Symptoms
Our private allergy testing in Birmingham can help identify whether digestive symptoms such as bloating, stomach cramps and diarrhoea are linked to a food allergy.
The ALEX3 test measures specific IgE antibodies to common food triggers, including
- Milk
- Egg
- Wheat
- Soy
- Peanut
- Shellfish
- Fruits and vegetables
- And more
Food allergies involve an immune system response and usually cause repeatable symptoms after consuming a specific food. The ALEX3 allergy test can help identify a true allergy and prevent unnecessary food restrictions by distinguishing allergies from other causes of digestive symptoms.
Skin & Eczema Allergy Testing
Eczema, hives and itchy skin can flare when your immune system reacts to an allergen. The ALEX3 allergy test checks for common skin triggers, including
- House dust mites
- Pet dander
- Pollens
- A wide range of foods
Finding what is triggering your eczema means you can reduce contact with it and may see your skin settle. Skin symptoms often have more than one cause, so we use your test results alongside your medical history and symptoms. The test is suitable for adults and young people experiencing persistent or unexplained skin problems.
Intolerance & Food Allergy Testing
We offer food allergy testing in Birmingham using the ALEX3 allergy test, which can help identify specific food allergens that may be causing swelling, hives or breathing problems.
A food allergy involves the immune system and specific IgE antibodies and can cause a fast reaction, such as hives or breathing difficulties. A food intolerance does not involve these antibodies and usually causes slower, mainly digestive symptoms such as stomach discomfort and changes in bowel habits.
The ALEX3 test measures IgE antibodies against individual food proteins and can test for a wide range of food allergens, including:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Legumes, grains and seeds
- Spices
The ALEX3 test uses component testing, which looks at the specific proteins causing an immune response for example to tell a true peanut allergy apart from a harmless cross-reaction. This precision also helps predict how likely a child is to outgrow a milk or egg allergy.
Hay Fever & Environmental Allergy Testing
Hay fever and other environmental allergies are caused by your immune system reacting to airborne allergens, such as pollen, mould spores and animal dander. The ALEX3 allergy test can help identify specific allergens that may be contributing to symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes, congestion and other allergic reactions.
The test can check for sensitivity to a wide range of environmental allergens, including:
Tree pollen allergens
Hazel tree
Silver birch
Oak
Grass and weed pollen allergens
Rye grass
Timothy grass
June grass
Tree pollen allergens:
Olive
Ash
Beech
Other Environmental Allergens
House dust mites
mould spores
animal dander
These are just a selection of the allergens tested. There are many more allergens included in the ALEX3 panel. Contact our team if you would like to find out more about the full range of allergens covered.
The ALEX3 test also uses component-resolved diagnostics, which identifies the specific proteins your immune system reacts to. It can also identify possible cross-reactivity between pollen allergens and certain raw fruits and vegetables, known as pollen food syndrome (oral allergy syndrome).
Private Allergy Testing in Sutton Coldfield
Allergies can impact your quality of life especially if you don’t know what is causing them.
At the Oakley Medical Practice, we are a CQC-registered clinic providing private allergy testing in Sutton Coldfield, in Birmingham.
Before testing, you will have a consultation with one of our GPs to discuss your symptoms, medical history and any suspected triggers. A blood sample will then be taken by our nurse and sent to our laboratory partner for analysis.
Once your results are available, you can book a follow-up consultation with one of our GPs to discuss your results, understand what they mean and explore any recommended next steps.
To book your private allergy test, you can:
- Call us
- Email us: admin@theoakleymedicalpractice.co.uk
- Book online: We offer appointments Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. To book directly, use our online booking system to make an appointment with a GP.
- Send an online enquiry and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Our clinic address is:
The Oakley Medical Practice
52 Bishops Way
Sutton Coldfield
B74 4XS
Several methods can detect allergies, including skin prick testing, intradermal tests, patch tests, blood tests, and oral observation. Skin prick and intradermal tests involve breaking the skin with tiny needles and exposing it to potential allergens, where a reaction indicates an allergy. Patch tests, which remain on the skin for 48 hours, help detect contact dermatitis. Blood tests measure IgE antibodies to identify allergies, and oral observation involves consuming potential allergens under close supervision. Please note that we only offer blood tests for allergy testing.
Yes. Allergy testing is conducted within highly controlled environments with doctors on standby in the case of a reaction. Minor reactions resolve within a few hours, and Epipens administered by trained staff members are used to counteract severe reactions. If you’re concerned about the safety of your testing, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We’ll discuss the processes as extensively as you need to put your mind at ease.
The first thing you can do is pause any allergy-related medication you’re taking (after consulting with a medical professional) to minimise interference with your tests. Taking allergy medication can influence your test results and prevent us from treating you properly. Furthermore, we advise avoiding certain foods or activities that may cause a flare-up.
Your practitioner will consult with you before your allergy testing to discuss your concerns, risk factors and the plan for your appointment. They will then perform a blood test so we can start processing your results as quickly as possible. The tests will take approximately 20-40 minutes, depending on the number of agents you’d like to test yourself against.
