Pin down the food trigger, near Cardiff
One blood test for 31 of the most common food allergens. Nuts, seafood and shellfish, dairy, egg, cereals, fruit and veg — all checked in a single draw for specific IgE, plus Total IgE. Built for when your symptoms clearly point to something you are eating but the culprit is not obvious. Self-refer at our Penarth or Cowbridge clinics near Cardiff.
Thirty-one common food allergens.
What is included for £310
- ✓Blood draw at Penarth or Cowbridge, near Cardiff
- ✓31 common food allergens including all the UK "top 14"
- ✓Specific IgE for each food, plus Total IgE
- ✓Plain-English report with your results and reference ranges
- ✓Anything outside the normal range flagged clearly
- ✓Report emailed to you, easy to share with a clinician
When you know it is a food, but not which
If reactions keep happening at mealtimes but the pattern is not obvious, testing one food at a time gets you nowhere fast. This panel measures specific IgE against 31 of the most common food allergens — including all the "top 14" the UK requires foods to be labelled for — so you can spot likely culprits, narrow an elimination diet, or rule out the usual suspects and think again.
Food, in depth
Thirty-one common food allergens in a single draw, including nuts, seafood, shellfish, dairy, egg, cereals, fruit and vegetables.
A report you can read
Your results come with reference ranges and plain-English notes, with anything out of range flagged so it is easy to spot.
A doctor if you want one
Prefer to talk it through? Book a private GP appointment and one of our doctors will go through your results and next steps.
Worth checking if you recognise these
This panel is a sensible next step when the food connection is clear but the specific trigger is not.
If you have ever had a severe reaction such as throat tightness, swelling or difficulty breathing after eating, seek urgent medical care. A blood test is not for diagnosing anaphylaxis, and food challenges must be done under clinical supervision.
Thirty-one foods, plus Total IgE
Thirty-one common food allergens grouped into five categories, each measured for specific IgE, plus Total IgE. Tap a group to see what is included.
Nuts, seeds & legumes 6
Seafood & shellfish 5
Dairy & egg 4
Fruit & vegetables 10
Cereals, starches & other 6
Proteins 1
Your report lists every food measured with its specific IgE result and reference range.
Difficult veins? We find them with ultrasound
If you have fragile or hard-to-find veins and have had failed attempts before, our consultant radiologists can take the sample under real-time ultrasound. It is the only such service in South Wales, and patients travel to us from across Wales and the West for it.
Nobody had managed to take my blood in years without several attempts. Here it was done first time with the ultrasound. Such a relief.
Verified Google reviewFrom booking to answers, step by step
Book
Self-refer online or by phone. No GP letter needed. Same-week appointments at Penarth or Cowbridge.
Your appointment
The draw takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Tell us if you have difficult veins and we will use ultrasound.
Your report
A plain-English report with reference ranges, emailed to you, with anything out of range flagged. Usually within about six days.
Talk it through
Optional: book a private GP appointment to go through your results and plan any next steps.
Food Allergy blood test
All inclusive. Thirty-one common food allergens in a single draw.
- ✓Blood draw at Penarth or Cowbridge
- ✓Specific IgE for 31 foods, plus Total IgE
- ✓Plain-English report with reference ranges, emailed to you
- ✓Ultrasound-guided draw available for difficult veins
A £50 booking deposit secures your slot and comes off the total.
Common questions about the food allergy test
How much is the Food Allergy Panel?
£310 all inclusive. That covers the blood draw, specific IgE testing for all 31 foods listed above, Total IgE, and a plain-English report emailed to you. A £50 deposit secures your appointment and comes off the total.
Which foods does it test for?
Thirty-one in total, covering nuts, seeds and legumes (almond, hazelnut, peanut, sesame, soy, walnut); seafood and shellfish (cod, crab, salmon, shrimp, tuna); dairy and egg (milk, casein, egg white, egg yolk); ten fruit and vegetables (apple, carrot, celery, garlic, onion, orange, peach, potato, strawberry, tomato); cereals and other staples (wheat, oat, rye flour, corn, chocolate, coconut); and Total IgE. The full list is grouped in the panel above.
Does this test food intolerances too?
No. This measures IgE antibodies, which is the mechanism behind classical, immediate food allergy — hives, swelling, wheeze or gut symptoms coming on within minutes to a couple of hours of eating. It will not detect lactose intolerance, non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, IBS-type triggers, or delayed food sensitivities, which work through different mechanisms. If your symptoms are gut-only and appear hours later, food intolerance is often more likely than allergy, and the workup is different.
Does this test for coeliac disease?
No. Wheat IgE tells you about IgE-mediated wheat allergy, not coeliac disease, which is an autoimmune condition tested for with anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies. Coeliac testing is included in our Nutritional Health blood test, or ask us about a standalone coeliac test.
How is this different from your other allergy panels?
Our First-Line and Enhanced panels mix a few foods with the common environmental triggers (pets, dust mite, pollens). Our Comprehensive Allergy IgE panel covers the same 31 foods as this test plus more than thirty environmental allergens. This Food Panel is the right choice when you are confident the trigger is something you are eating and you do not need the environmental cover.
How is this different from a skin prick test?
This is a blood test that measures specific IgE antibodies, so it can be done without stopping antihistamines and without exposing your skin to food. It is useful when skin testing is not suitable, when you want to check many foods at once, or when a reaction risk means skin exposure is best avoided.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. This is a self-refer test. Book online or call 029 2199 9300.
Do I need to prepare or fast?
No fasting is needed for an allergy IgE test, and you do not need to stop antihistamines. We will confirm anything specific to your appointment when you book.
How quickly will I get my results?
Usually within about six days. Your report lists every food measured with its specific IgE result and reference range, and flags anything outside the normal range. We will confirm timing when you book.
Where is the blood taken?
At our Penarth clinic (13 Washington Buildings, CF64 2AD) or our Cowbridge clinic (10 High Street, CF71 7AG). Both are a short drive from Cardiff with easy parking.
I have difficult veins. Can you still take blood?
Yes. Our consultant radiologists can take the sample under real-time ultrasound, the only such service in South Wales. Mention it when you book so we can allow time.
Should I cut foods out based on the results alone?
Not on your own. A positive IgE result shows sensitisation and does not always mean a clinical allergy, and cutting foods out without guidance can leave gaps in your diet. We strongly recommend discussing the results with a doctor before making changes, and any food challenges should be done under clinical supervision.
Can a doctor talk me through my results?
Yes. You can book a private GP appointment and one of our doctors will go through your results and next steps.
Want a doctor to explain the results?
Food allergy results are most useful alongside your symptoms and eating patterns, and dietary changes are best planned with clinical input. Book a private GP appointment and one of our doctors will talk you through what your results mean and any next steps.
Book a GP appointmentTwo clinics, close to Cardiff
Penarth Clinic
13 Washington Buildings
Stanwell Road, Penarth
CF64 2AD
Mon to Thu 9:00 to 18:00
Fri 9:00 to 17:00
Sat 9:00 to 15:00
Cowbridge Clinic
Beauty Within
10 High Street, Cowbridge
CF71 7AG
By appointment. Please call for availability.
Get directionsPatients travel to us from Cardiff, Penarth, Cowbridge, Barry, Newport, Bridgend and across the Vale of Glamorgan.
Important: Food allergy results are most useful when read alongside your symptoms and eating patterns by a doctor who knows your history. A positive IgE result shows sensitisation and does not always mean a clinical allergy; a negative result across these 31 foods does not rule out every possible food allergy or a food intolerance. Dietary changes and food challenges should be planned with clinical input, and any food challenge must be done under supervision. If you have ever had a severe reaction after eating — throat tightness, swelling or difficulty breathing — seek urgent medical care. We recommend discussing your results with your own GP, or booking a private GP appointment with us, before acting on any findings. Lab values alone do not constitute medical advice.
Find the food behind it.
Self-refer for the Food Allergy Panel: 31 common food allergens across nuts, seafood, dairy, egg, cereals, fruit and vegetables, checked in one appointment. £310 all inclusive at Penarth or Cowbridge, near Cardiff.