Allergy Profile 2 (UK Aero Allergen) is a blood test that checks your immune response to the airborne allergens behind allergic symptoms in the UK, including birch pollen, timothy grass, ragweed, house dust mites, mould spores and cat, dog and horse dander. It suits anyone with sneezing, a blocked or runny nose, or itchy eyes that follow a seasonal or environmental pattern. The test costs £415, plus a £50 blood-draw fee, with results back in 2 days. Walk in or book online at 117a Harley Street, seven days a week.
This profile is usually requested for ongoing hay-fever type symptoms, unexplained sneezing or congestion, itchy or watery eyes, or a cough or wheeze that flares at certain times of year, such as during the birch or grass pollen season.
It is also useful when someone suspects a reaction to a pet, house dust or mould at home or work, covering cat, dog and horse dander alongside dust mites and common mould species in one sample.
Some people book it ahead of a known high-pollen season, or simply to check whether their symptoms are allergic at all before exploring other explanations.
Most people do not need to fast before this test and can eat and drink normally beforehand. If you take antihistamines, they do not need to be stopped for a blood allergy test, unlike a skin prick test, but mention your current medication to the phlebotomist and follow any specific instruction from your doctor.
A positive result against an allergen such as birch pollen, house dust mite or cat dander shows that your immune system has produced antibodies to it. This is called sensitisation, and it commonly lines up with symptoms when you are exposed to that allergen, though it is possible to have a positive result without a noticeable reaction, which is why the report is read alongside what you actually experience.
A negative result across the panel suggests your symptoms are less likely to be driven by these common airborne allergens, and other causes may be worth exploring with a doctor.
For help understanding which results matter most for you and what to do about them, arrange a follow-up with a doctor or allergy specialist rather than acting on the report alone.
To have results interpreted by a consultant immunologist, see the allergy clinic at Medical Express Clinic.
Written by Mr Stephen Lingam. Reviewed by Dr Scott Pereira on 24/09/2026.
It covers pollens including birch and timothy grass, common ragweed, two house dust mite species, common moulds such as Alternaria, Aspergillus and Cladosporium, and cat, dog and horse dander. Your laboratory report will list each one tested and the result against it.
No, unlike a skin prick test, a blood allergy test is not affected by antihistamines, so you can continue your usual medication. Mention what you are taking to the phlebotomist all the same.
No, this profile checks for allergic sensitisation, not asthma itself. If your symptoms include wheezing or breathlessness, discuss this with a doctor, who may suggest additional assessment.
Neither is universally better; a blood test is convenient and does not require stopping antihistamines, while a skin prick test can give faster results for certain allergens. A specialist can advise which suits your situation best.