A skin prick test (SPT) is the gold standard for identifying which specific allergens are triggering your immune system. It is simple, safe, takes about 30 minutes, and gives us precise, actionable information.

Here is how it works: small drops of common allergen extracts — dust mite, cockroach, mould, various tree and grass pollens, pet dander, and others — are placed on the forearm. A tiny prick through each drop introduces a trace amount under the skin. After 15–20 minutes, we measure any reactions. A raised, itchy wheal at a specific site confirms sensitivity to that allergen.

What a skin prick test tells us:

  • Exactly which allergens are driving your symptoms
  • Whether your allergy is dust-mite driven (perennial) or pollen-driven (seasonal)
  • Whether you are sensitised to multiple allergens — which affects treatment planning
  • Whether immunotherapy is appropriate and which allergen mix to use
  • A baseline to measure treatment response over time

Without an SPT, allergy treatment is largely guesswork.  You might be avoiding the wrong things, taking medication that does not match your specific trigger, and missing the opportunity for a permanent solution.