When you suspect an allergy might be affecting your child, knowing exactly what's triggering the reaction is crucial for effective management. As a parent, navigating the world of allergies can feel overwhelming. This guide is designed specifically for parents and will walk you through the full spectrum of allergens that can be tested for at LACK Allergy Clinic in London, providing the clarity you need to help your child navigate allergic conditions with confidence.
Our advanced allergy testing at our London clinic precisely identifies the specific substances causing your child's allergic reactions. This targeted approach eliminates the guesswork of relying solely on symptoms or subjecting your child to lengthy elimination diets. By pinpointing exact triggers, we help you avoid unnecessary dietary restrictions whilst ensuring effective management of your child's genuine allergies.
Food allergies affect approximately 8% of children and 2–3% of adults. Our testing capabilities cover all major food allergens, including:
For certain food allergies, particularly peanut and tree nut allergies, we offer advanced component resolved diagnostics (CRD) testing. This sophisticated approach identifies antibodies to specific protein components within an allergen, helping to distinguish between:
This detailed information helps us provide more precise risk assessments and management strategies.
Environmental allergies (also called respiratory or inhalant allergies) affect a significant portion of the population, with symptoms ranging from mild seasonal discomfort to severe year-round symptoms. Our testing covers:
Adverse reactions to medications can be complex, involving both allergic and non-allergic mechanisms. When a true allergic reaction is suspected, we can test for:
Note: Medication allergy testing often involves specialised approaches and may require referral to dedicated drug allergy centres for comprehensive evaluation in complex cases.
For patients who have experienced severe reactions to insect stings, we offer testing for:
Accurate identification of venom allergies is crucial for risk assessment and consideration of venom immunotherapy, which can be life-saving for those with severe reactions.
Not every patient needs testing for all possible allergens. Our approach is thoughtfully tailored to each individual, considering:
This targeted approach ensures that testing is relevant to your specific situation, avoiding unnecessary procedures while providing comprehensive assessment of likely triggers.
At LACK Allergy Clinic, we employ multiple testing techniques to accurately identify allergen
Perhaps the most important aspect of allergy testing isn't just which allergens we can test for, but how we interpret the results. We recognise that positive test results don't always mean clinical allergy, and that test size doesn't perfectly correlate with reaction severity. Patterns of sensitisation provide important diagnostic clues that must be carefully evaluated, whilst clinical history needs to be integrated with test findings to create a complete picture. This sophisticated interpretation, combined with our extensive testing capabilities, ensures you receive not just results, but meaningful guidance about your allergic condition.
As allergy science advances, testing approaches continue to evolve. Emerging approaches include:
While some of these approaches remain primarily research tools, they represent the future direction of increasingly personalised allergy diagnostics.
If you suspect allergies are affecting your child, our team in London can help determine which specific allergens warrant testing based on your child's unique situation. This targeted approach ensures your family receives the most relevant information without putting your child through unnecessary procedures.
By accurately identifying your child's specific allergen triggers, we can develop age-appropriate, personalised management strategies that effectively control symptoms while avoiding needless restrictions. Our goal is to help your child live confidently with allergies while giving you, as a parent, the knowledge and tools you need to support them.