How do I get tests done for food allergies?

[crayon]

DS1 (and I) have food allergies, resulting in very irritating hives. DS2 has been seen by a consultant but as his reactions generally take 24 hours to come out, skin prick tests wer unhelpful.

Are there other other tests I can have done?

Many thanks.

most consultants are only doctors "with an interest in " allergy. They can take blood for tests but that may not work either. Are you keeping a detailed diary as reactions that take 24 hours are very unlikely? For something a bit out of the ordinary like this you'd probably need to see a trained allergy consultant and there are very few of those.

I've just posted a very similar question. I saw an allergy consultant who told me that because the prick tests were negative and the response was not immediate I didn't have a food allergy, but an intollerance... I was so annoyed.... I know this is an allergy.
I'm considering the york test that I've seen advertised in GMTV but it doesn't seem to be very reliable and it's so expensive. It's incredible that the the NHS can't help....

Have you thought about seeing a homeopath?

for information on tests have a look at this site www.allergy-clinic.co.uk/ which also talks about the need to consider other causes of the symptoms.

It would be very unusual for an allergic reaction not to show up for 24 hours. It's possible if someone only reacts to something once it has been broken down in the digestive system but very unlikely. So you need to consider other possible causes for your son's problems. To get other allergy tests done you would probably have to pay.

tugamommy if your reaction is not IgE mediated and is delayed it is more correct to call it an intolerance. That doesn't mean it isn't making you ill but you're unlikely to benefit from antihistamine or epipens. Try an exclusion diet or ask to see a dietician if you want NHS help.

my food reactions dont show for 24 hours (approx)

I thought for ages that this meant they were intolerances, but they did actually show up on conventional skin tests.

There is an alternative way of estimating negative reactions to food, the Lee-Miller method and related developments. I had these tests from Ray Choy in London, they were pretty accurate. (he is mentioned near the end of this link)
here's the link: allergy tests

Well, I call it an allergy because the symptoms clearly show that it is mediated by the immune system and because antihistamines have a very clear strong effect.

I understand that this is not an allergy of the classical type, but it is definitely much closer to an allergy than to a lactose intollerance, for example. The site you posted Tatt here is I'm afraid incorrect. According to it, my allergy or intolerance, doesn't fit into any classification and yet it exists!

online testing kits

I've used all of these, they are the same as hospital tests. (also had them too)