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Skin prick allergy testing (paediatric) - a quick, safe first-line answer.

For children with suspected food or environmental allergy. A consultant paediatric allergist, on-site skin prick testing to the allergens the history points to, and a written plan the same day.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What private paediatric skin prick testing costs in the UK.

In short

Skin prick test: £180–£350, results in 15–30 minutes.

ItemIndicative range
Paediatric allergy consultation£250–£450
Skin prick test - up to 6 allergens£180–£280
Skin prick test - up to 12 allergens£220–£350
Extended food panel (up to 20)£280–£420
Skin prick + specific IgE combined£380–£750
Follow-up review£150–£280
Written management + EpiPen training£120–£220

The problem

Test what the story points to, in one visit, with a plan you leave with.

  • The right allergens, not the whole shelf

    A history-driven panel - testing what the story points to rather than a scattergun approach.

  • Paediatric-trained nurses, resus-equipped rooms

    Skin prick testing is safe when done properly, in the right setting, on stable eczema.

  • A written plan on the way out

    Not "results to follow" - you leave with a diagnosis and a rescue plan.

When it helps

When paediatric skin prick testing is the right step.

  • Suspected nut, sesame or seafood allergy

    A specific reaction history in a child - skin prick is fast and specific.

  • Cow’s milk or egg allergy

    To confirm or exclude before an oral food challenge or reintroduction ladder.

  • Hay fever with poor control

    To identify grass, tree or weed pollen sensitisation before starting SLIT.

  • House-dust-mite or pet allergy

    For year-round rhinitis and asthma control.

  • Eczema with a suspected trigger

    When there is a plausible food story - not for eczema alone.

  • Fruit and vegetable oral itching

    Pollen-food syndrome patterns in older children.

  • Antihistamines must be stopped first

    3–5 days off non-sedating antihistamines before testing.

  • Red flag: severe eczema flare on the arms

    Skin prick may not be reliable on flared skin - plan a good week or use IgE instead.

Options

Skin prick is the first-line test - these are the alternatives.

  • Skin prick testing (SPT)

    The first-line test - quick, low-pain, high specificity.

  • Specific IgE blood testing

    When skin prick is not possible - active eczema, needle-averse teen.

  • Component-resolved testing (ISAC / ALEX)

    Adds risk stratification for peanut, hazelnut, wheat and shellfish.

  • Oral food challenge

    The gold standard when history and testing disagree.

  • Patch testing

    For delayed contact dermatitis reactions.

  • Intradermal testing

    Not first-line in children - reserved for drug allergy work-up.

  • Prick-to-prick with fresh food

    For fruit, vegetable and unusual foods where commercial extracts are unreliable.

  • Tryptase

    Baseline and post-reaction to rule in anaphylaxis and mastocytosis.

Safety and recovery

What to expect - honestly.

  • Very safe when done properly

    Local wheal only in most children; systemic reactions are rare but rooms are resus-equipped.

  • Positive test ≠ allergy

    A positive test without matching history is sensitisation, not allergy.

  • Antihistamines block the test

    Stop non-sedating antihistamines for 3–5 days before.

  • Eczema on the arms

    Test sites need to be reasonably clear - plan a good eczema week.

  • Not for babies under 3 months routinely

    Skin reactivity is limited in very young babies - plan around it.

  • Interpret with history

    The interpretation is the whole reason to see a consultant, not a nurse-only clinic.

  • Written plan matters

    Rescue medication, EpiPen training and school letter are the real output.

  • Re-test at intervals

    Cow’s milk and egg often resolve - re-testing every 1–2 years is normal.

  • Red flag: airway swelling, breathlessness or collapse

    Adrenaline first, 999 second. Every family with a diagnosed allergy needs to be clear on this.

Your notes

Your report in four parts.

A UK consultant reviewing notes
  1. Header

    Allergens tested and controls

    What was tested and the histamine and saline control readings.

  2. Technique

    Wheal sizes and interpretation

    Millimetre wheal sizes for each allergen and clinical interpretation.

  3. Findings

    Diagnoses and sensitisations

    Which foods and aeroallergens are clinically relevant.

  4. Impression

    Plan and rescue medication

    Read this first: what to avoid, what to carry, what to do in a reaction.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Paediatric allergy is available on the NHS but 6–18 months waits are typical for a first specialist appointment; it is usually covered by private insurers when medically indicated.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about paediatric skin prick testing.

  • When should a child have skin prick testing?

    When there is a clear reaction history to a specific food or environmental allergen, or when eczema, asthma or hay fever is not controlled and the treating consultant needs to know which allergens are driving it.

  • What does the test actually involve?

    A drop of allergen extract is placed on the forearm and a small lancet is used to lightly prick the skin through the drop. It takes about 15–30 minutes for the wheal to develop. The wheal size is measured and interpreted against controls and against the history.

  • How much does paediatric skin prick testing cost privately in the UK?

    Roughly £180–£280 for a small panel of up to 6 allergens, £220–£350 for up to 12 and £280–£420 for extended food panels. The consultation is a separate £250–£450.

  • Is skin prick testing available on the NHS?

    Yes, in paediatric allergy clinics, but waits for first appointment run 6–18 months in most regions, and same-visit testing is not always possible.

  • Do we need to stop antihistamines first?

    Yes - non-sedating antihistamines (cetirizine, loratadine, fexofenadine) must be stopped for 3–5 days before the test, otherwise the results are unreliable. Inhalers and steroid creams are fine to continue.

  • Is it painful?

    It is uncomfortable but not sharp - most children tolerate it well after a good explanation. Distraction, a familiar toy and the option of a parent doing the counting help a lot.

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