Limited time offer! 10% off your first blood test order!
Four markers that characterise the pattern of immune activation underlying allergy and inflammation — from total IgE to systemic inflammatory indices.
or 4 interest-free payments of £19.75 with Klarna
A four-marker allergy and inflammatory screen covering total IgE, eosinophil count, hs-CRP, and ESR.
Allergy, atopy, and inflammatory conditions affect an estimated 20 to 30 percent of the UK adult population. Whether you are investigating worsening hayfever, unexplained rashes, food sensitivities, asthma, or recurrent sinusitis, a targeted biochemical screen provides a useful starting point. This four-marker panel measures total IgE (the immunoglobulin class central to allergic responses — elevated in atopic individuals and certain parasitic conditions), eosinophil count (the white blood cells most closely associated with allergic and parasitic disease processes), hs-CRP (quantifying any concurrent systemic inflammatory component), and ESR (a broader non-specific inflammatory marker that captures a different dimension of inflammatory activity). Together these four markers characterise the biological pattern of immune activation, helping to distinguish allergic from non-allergic inflammation and to quantify its extent. Results are reviewed by a GMC-registered physician.
Understand what each marker measures, why it matters, and what the science says — not just a list of numbers.
This panel is designed for adults who want a comprehensive, evidence-based picture of their metabolic health — not a GP referral panel.
People with suspected allergy or atopy wanting a starting-point screen before allergen-specific testing
Individuals with asthma, recurrent urticaria, or chronic rhinitis wanting to quantify their allergic load
Those with unexplained eosinophilia found on a previous blood count
People investigating whether their fatigue and musculoskeletal symptoms have an inflammatory component
Parents wanting to assess the allergic immune profile of adults with new-onset allergy symptoms
Total IgE is elevated in atopic individuals and those with active parasitic infections but is not elevated in all allergy presentations. Non-atopic asthma, for instance, may present with normal total IgE. Total IgE cannot identify which specific allergen is causing symptoms; specific IgE testing against individual allergens is required for that purpose. Eosinophilia has many causes beyond allergy, including parasitic infection, drug reactions, certain malignancies, hypereosinophilic syndrome, and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders. ESR is a non-specific marker of inflammation and is elevated in many conditions including infection, malignancy, and pregnancy; interpretation must be in the context of the clinical presentation. This panel does not include complement levels, tryptase (a mast cell marker), or specific antibody classes, which may be required in specialist assessment.
From order to physician-reviewed report in as little as three working days.
Home fingerstick kit or mobile phlebotomist at checkout.
Collect at any time. Full instructions included.
Pre-paid Royal Mail envelope included.
Physician commentary with context for allergy and inflammation in 3 to 5 working days.
Three options designed to fit your schedule, location, and preference — all producing a laboratory-standard sample.
Adults 18+ in mainland UK. Not suitable if you have had a transfusion in the last 3 months.
Order anytime; kit dispatched within 24 hours Mon–Fri.
Allow 24–48 hours for sample transit on top of lab processing time.
Adults 18+ within 20 miles of a serviced city centre.
Mon–Sun, 06:00–20:00. Next-day booking typical.
Sample reaches the lab within 24 hours of collection.
Adults 16+ with photo ID. Paediatric draws by appointment at selected sites.
Mon–Fri, with Saturday hours at most metropolitan locations.
Samples processed same-day at the receiving clinic.
Every test is processed in a UKAS ISO 15189-accredited laboratory, overseen by GMC-registered physicians, and governed by UK GDPR. No overseas processing, no offshore data.
Follow these guidelines to ensure accurate, reproducible results. Most markers are sensitive to recent food, exercise, and sleep.
Can't find your answer? Our clinical support team is available Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.
Contact supportTotal IgE is the sum of all IgE immunoglobulin in the blood, regardless of the specific allergen it targets. A raised total IgE suggests an atopic constitution — a genetic tendency toward IgE-mediated allergic responses — and is commonly elevated in conditions such as allergic asthma, hayfever, eczema, and food allergy. The degree of elevation does not necessarily correlate with the severity of symptoms; some highly symptomatic individuals have only modestly elevated IgE. Parasitic infection (particularly intestinal worms) can cause striking IgE elevation in returning travellers or in those who have lived in tropical regions. A raised total IgE prompts specific allergen testing to identify the relevant triggers.
Eosinophilia (elevated eosinophil count) most commonly results from atopic allergy or parasitic infection in the UK. Atopic conditions causing eosinophilia include allergic rhinitis, asthma, eczema, and food allergy. Drug reactions are another relatively common cause; many medications, including NSAIDs and antibiotics, can trigger eosinophilia. Rarer but important causes include eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly Churg-Strauss syndrome), hypereosinophilic syndrome, coeliac disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. A markedly elevated eosinophil count (above 1.5 x 10^9 per litre) always warrants further investigation to exclude serious underlying pathology.
No. Total IgE confirms the presence of a heightened IgE-mediated allergic immune state but cannot identify which specific allergen is responsible for your symptoms. To identify specific triggers, allergen-specific IgE testing (also called RAST or ImmunoCAP) is required. This involves testing against a panel of specific allergens — common ones include grass and tree pollens, house dust mite, cat and dog dander, mould, and food proteins (peanut, egg, cow’s milk, wheat, fish). Specific allergen panels can be arranged following a positive total IgE result through your GP, allergy clinic, or via our extended allergy testing services.
Both hs-CRP and ESR are non-specific markers of systemic inflammation, but they measure different aspects of the inflammatory response and have different kinetics. CRP is synthesised by the liver within 6 to 8 hours of an acute inflammatory stimulus and falls rapidly when inflammation resolves; it is therefore sensitive to acute changes and is the better marker for monitoring rapidly evolving inflammatory conditions. ESR measures how quickly red blood cells sediment, which is influenced by the concentration of fibrinogen, immunoglobulins, and other acute-phase proteins that change more slowly. ESR rises and falls over days to weeks, making it more sensitive to chronic, lower-grade inflammatory conditions. Using both together provides a more complete picture than either alone.
Antihistamines do not significantly affect total IgE, eosinophil count, CRP, or ESR. They block histamine receptors at the tissue level but do not reduce IgE production or eosinophil activity. You can therefore continue taking your antihistamines before testing without affecting the results. What antihistamines will do is suppress your symptoms, which is their purpose — but the underlying immune markers of atopy will still be detectable. If you are planning specific allergen skin-prick testing (not covered by this panel), you would need to stop antihistamines for 3 to 5 days before the test as they suppress the skin reaction used to confirm specific sensitisation.
For straightforward hayfever or mild food intolerances, a GP is an appropriate starting point for initial investigation and management. If symptoms are more complex, severe, or not responding to standard antihistamines and avoidance, referral to an NHS allergy clinic or immunology service is recommended. Allergy specialists can perform comprehensive skin-prick testing, oral food challenges, drug challenge tests, and venom allergy assessment, and can supervise immunotherapy (desensitisation) for selected allergens. Your physician commentary will advise on the most appropriate pathway based on your results and clinical context.
