Child Allergy test process (hay fever/dust/animals, not food allergy)

[WhatapityWapiti]

I’m fairly sure that my DS (7) suffers from the same allergies that I do- dust mites and tree pollen.

During the spring when he was about 3 he had very red blotchy cheeks during hay fever season and I was told by the doctor that it often manifests this way rather than classic itchy eyes and sneezing. Ever since then I’ve given him certrizine daily for the whole hay fever season and that has kept it at bay.

We already have few carpets etc at home due to my allergy, but he does have a carpet in his room and outside hay fever season I notice him sneezing in the mornings like I used to as a child.

I’d like to be sure about what he is allergic to, and whether (like me) it also goes wider to cats and dogs, which he never goes near when with me. Or maybe it was never hay fever and the medicine is a waste of time. But he has no active symptoms at the moment and so it feels like time wasting to go to GP for allergy testing.

We have private health cover so I’m wondering if I can use that but think I would still need a GP referral. Also, would it be skin patch test or a blood test?

Can anyone talk me through the diagnosis process?

Thanks.