Sick of the sniffles? Irritated by itchy eyes? This simple, reliable finger prick blood spot will determine whether you have an allergy in just 10 minutes!

Allergies can be very debilitating, hindering day-to-day activities and often causing congestion, drowsiness, and fatigue. An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to certain substances that are considered foreign to our bodies, which may include dust mite, pollen, pets and even certain foods, which can lead to hay fever (rhinitis), asthma, eczema and more. The body aims to remove the foreign body which this causes the IgA allergy-specific antibodies called immunoglobulins to overact. This overreaction often leads to symptoms of itching, inflammation of the skin and eyes, and, in some cases breathing and respiratory issues. Other symptoms include:

• Weakened immune system
• Trouble sleeping
• Loss of concentration
• Runny or itchy nose
• Sore throat
• Ear infections
• Nasal congestion
• Impaired sense of smell and taste
• General feeling of being unwell – similar to a cold but without a fever
• Eye irritation
• Fatigue
• Facial pressure or pain
• Wheezing
• Muscle aches and pains
• Headaches

If you are suffering with any of these symptoms, you may wish to determine the cause. Indeed, this test will specify whether your allergy antibody levels (Immunoglobulin E) are normal or high, so you can see whether your symptoms are likely due to an allergy or something else. Allergy symptoms are often confused with the symptoms of bacterial or viral infections such as rashes, sneezing, sore throat, cough, and runny nose. However, if this test records high levels of Immunoglobulin E, you can take the relevant action, such as treating with antihistamines, or discussing the results with your doctor. Further testing may be required to pinpoint the specific allergen. Alternatively, if the test is negative but symptoms persist, it is also important to make an appointment with a medical professional, whom you can advise you’ve ruled out allergies.

The test kit contains:

• 1 test device, 1 plastic pipette and 1 desiccant pouch
• 1 small bottle containing 1ml of diluent
• 2 sterile lancets to obtain a blood sample – the lancets provided with the SELFCheck Allergy Test are single use. A spare lancet is provided, although should not be required if the instructions are followed correctly.
• 1 instruction leaflet

Please Note: This test is not suitable for children younger than 6 years old as the normal range for very young children is different to older children and adults.