More and more consumers have been getting duped into taking misleading and unproven allergy tests. Some of which have no scientific basis at all. These tests are often bought over the counter or online without any input from regulated health professionals. This leads to people often receiving incorrect medical diagnoses and unsuitable or potentially harmful and unnecessary treatments. Some of the dubious tests include hair tests, ‘bioenergetic’ analysis and applied kinesiology. All of which have no scientific basis and provide absolutely no information about allergy. Others can be very misleading, such as tests for “food intolerance”, which can cost upwards of £300 and measure levels of food specific IgG antibodies in the blood. But these results are frequently high in perfectly healthy individuals, and the test is widely considered meaningless. With the inaccuracy inherent in many of these unproven tests, many who suffer from allergies are unable to get accurate diagnosis, while healthy individuals might be misdiagnosed with allergies they don’t actually have. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) specifically lists the tests that should not be used to diagnose allergy or food related complaints. All these tests are included. The clinically valid tests they do recommend are:

• Blood IgE Testing,
• Skin-Prick Testing
• Challenge Testing (Rarely Done)

All of these tests need to be performed and interpreted by a qualified health professional. If you would like to have an allergy test from a qualified medical professional, call our friendly medical concierge at +65 6679 7867 or email us at customercare@tmcg.com.sg and we will be on hand to assist you.