Allergy Test Panels

What Are Allergy Tests?

Allergy tests are laboratory tests that help investigate allergic sensitisation to foods, pollens, house dust mites, animals, insect venoms and certain medicines.

Measuring specific IgE antibodies to particular allergens in a blood sample can support the diagnosis of allergy. However, a positive test result does not always indicate a clinical allergy. Results must be assessed alongside the patient's symptoms and medical history.

Allergy Tests Available at Wellcare

Food Allergy Panel – 35 Parameters

Assesses specific IgE sensitisation to 35 different food allergens, including eggs, milk, wheat, nuts, fish, seafood, fruit and vegetables.

Egg white(f1), egg yolk(chicken)(f75), cow's milk(f2), cow's milk (UHT)(f169), casein(f78), wheat flour(f4), gluten(f79), rice(f9), soya bean(f14), sesame(f10), peanut(f13), hazelnut(f17), pistachio(f144), sunflower seed(u87), pumpkin seed(f222), cocoa(f73), orange(f33), strawberry(f44), apple(f49), banana(f92), kiwi(f84), mulberry(f146), fig(f328), tomato(f25), carrot(f31), potato(f35), onion(f48), peach(f95), cherry(f97), black olive(f122), green bean(f132), fish mix (fs14), shellfish mix (fs10), meat mix (fs43), chicken (fs83)

Who is it recommended for? It may be used, based on clinical assessment, in people who experience recurrent hives, itching, lip swelling or other allergic symptoms after eating certain foods.

Analysis: EUROIMMUN (Germany) – performed in-house at Wellcare Laboratories.

Respiratory Allergy Panel – 26 Parameters

Assesses 26 different parameters, including pollens, house dust mites, moulds, cats, dogs and other animal-derived allergens.

Grass (early), grass (late)(gs15), cereal pollen mix(gs21), cultivated rye(g12), tree (early)(ts23), tree (late)(ts24), olive tree(t9), mulberry tree(t70), weed mix 1(ws19), weed mix (ws20), dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (d1), dermatophagoides farinae(d2), cockroach(blattella germanica)(i6), feather mix (es2), cage birds 3 (es173), cat(e1), dog(e2), horse(e3), cow(e4), goat(e80), sheep(e81), hamster(e84), penicillium notatum(m1), cladosporium herbarum(m2), aspergillus fum.(m3), alternaria alternata(m6)

Who is it recommended for? It may be useful in people with frequent sneezing, a runny nose, an itchy nose and eyes, seasonal allergic symptoms or suspected allergic asthma.

Analysis: EUROIMMUN (Germany) – performed in-house at Wellcare Laboratories.

Our Specialised Allergy Test Panels

The following tests are performed by sending blood samples collected at Wellcare to the laboratory of our partner in France, Eurofins Biomnis.

Beta-Lactam (Penicillin) Antibiotic Allergy Panel – 5 Parameters

Helps investigate specific IgE sensitisation to penicillin and certain beta-lactam antibiotics.

Penicillin G (c1), penicillin V (c2), ampicillin (c5), amoxicillin (c6), cephalosporin mix (c201: cefaclor, cefaxin, cefotaxime, cefuroxime)

When is it performed? It may be requested following assessment by an allergy specialist in people with a history of sudden-onset hives, itching, swelling or anaphylaxis after antibiotic use.

A negative blood test does not definitively rule out a drug allergy. Skin tests or controlled drug provocation tests may be required for diagnosis.

NSAID and Paracetamol Allergy Panel – 5 Parameters

This is a specialised panel used to assess possible hypersensitivity associated with aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, diclofenac and paracetamol.

Acetylsalicylic acid (c217), ibuprofen (c286), ketoprofen (c388), diclofenac (c281), paracetamol (u209). 

When is it performed? It may be used following specialist assessment in patients who develop an allergic reaction after taking painkillers.

Important: A substantial proportion of reactions to painkillers are not IgE-mediated. Therefore, blood tests alone are not sufficient to confirm or rule out a drug allergy.

Occupational Allergens Panel – 7 Parameters

Includes assessments for substances that may be encountered in the workplace, such as latex, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde and certain isocyanates.

Latex (k82), ethylene oxide (k78), phthalic anhydride (k79), formaldehyde (k80), isocyanate TDI (k75), isocyanate MDI (k76), isocyanate HDI (k77)

When is it performed? It may be used to investigate a runny nose, cough, shortness of breath or other allergic symptoms that worsen at work and improve when away from the workplace.

Bee Venom and Insect Allergy Profile – 7 Parameters

Helps investigate specific IgE sensitisation to honeybee, wasp and certain other insect allergens.

Honeybee venom (i1), wasp venom – Vespula (i3), wasp venom – Polistes (i4), hornet venom – Vespa crabro (i75), mosquito – Aedes communis (i71), fire ant (i70), cockroach (i6)

When is it performed? It may be recommended by a specialist physician for people who experience widespread hives, shortness of breath, dizziness or a severe allergic reaction after an insect sting.

Gluten Allergy and Intolerance Profile – 9 Parameters

This panel includes specific IgE tests for wheat and gluten, as well as certain antibody tests used to investigate coeliac disease.

Gluten (f79), wheat (f4), total immunoglobulin A / IgA (IgA), anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA (TGLU), anti-tissue transglutaminase IgG (TGLUG), anti-endomysial IgG (ENDOA), anti-endomysial IgA (ENDOG), anti-deamidated gliadin peptide IgG (GLIAA), anti-deamidated gliadin peptide IgA (GLIAG)

When is it performed? It may be used on a physician's recommendation when an immediate allergic reaction related to wheat consumption is suspected, or when symptoms suggestive of coeliac disease are present, such as persistent diarrhoea, abdominal bloating, weight loss and iron deficiency.

Important: Wheat allergy, coeliac disease and non-coeliac gluten sensitivity are different conditions. For reliable coeliac test results, it is important not to stop consuming gluten before testing.

When and How Are Samples Collected for Allergy Tests?

Allergy blood tests are performed at Wellcare Laboratories branches in Nicosia and Kyrenia using a venous blood sample taken from the arm.

Is fasting required? Fasting is generally not required for specific IgE blood tests.

When can testing be performed? Most allergy blood tests can be performed at any time of day. Following reactions to medicines or insect venom, the appropriate timing of testing should be determined by a specialist.

Should allergy medicines be stopped? Antihistamines generally do not affect specific IgE blood tests. Do not stop taking your medicines without your doctor's advice.

How is the sample collected? Our experienced healthcare staff perform a brief, standard blood collection procedure.

When will the results be available? Results for our EUROIMMUN food and respiratory allergy panels are generally available within 1 business day. Turnaround times for tests sent to Eurofins Biomnis may vary depending on the panel.

About test results: A positive specific IgE result indicates sensitisation to the substance concerned; it does not, on its own, establish a definitive diagnosis of allergy. Results should be assessed by a specialist physician to avoid unnecessary restrictions, particularly in cases of food and drug allergies.

Where Can Allergy Testing Be Performed in Northern Cyprus?

Wellcare Laboratories offers blood sample collection services for food, respiratory, drug, occupational allergen and molecular allergy tests at its branches in Nicosia and Kyrenia.

In addition to the panels performed in our laboratory using EUROIMMUN technology, we provide access to advanced allergy tests in collaboration with Eurofins Biomnis.