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Food Intolerance Test Kit (Gold)
£195
FREE Delivery on all orders
An at-home food intolerance test for adults and children aged two and over, covering 270 foods and drinks. A small finger prick sample at home, results within 5 to 7 working days of the lab receiving it, along with the TESTme Handbook so you know what comes next.
What is The TESTme Gold Food Intolerance Test?
Our Gold test is an at-home food intolerance test for adults and children aged two and over in the UK. It measures food-specific IgG responses to 270 foods and drinks and costs £195.
TESTme is owned and run by Iona Urquhart, a nutritionist who has been testing for food intolerance for fifteen years from her clinic in Inverness.
The Gold test measures an antibody called IgG, which shows your immune system has responded to a food you’ve eaten. You may know this as a food intolerance or a food sensitivity.
You take a simple finger prick sample at home and send it to our partner laboratory, where it’s checked against 270 foods including tea, coffee, herbs and spices . Your results come back by email with the TESTme Handbook, which walks you through your next steps. And Iona is just an email away if you need help.
Common Food Intolerance Symptoms
- Bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, IBS
- Headaches or migraines
- Eczema, rashes, acne, hives
- Fatigue or lethargy
- Joint Pain
- Respiratory symptoms and more
How your sample is tested
Your sample goes to our partner laboratory, which is certified to ISO 13485, the quality standard for medical devices.
We use Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) principles through Microarray Technology for Food Intolerance Testing.
You can read more about our laboratory partners here;
Is This The Right Test For You?
This is the one to choose if you’re an adult or for a child over two, you’re getting symptoms you suspect are food related, and you’d rather do it at home than come to a clinic.
People usually come to us after months of guessing. Cutting out bread for a fortnight, feeling no different, cutting out dairy instead, then wondering if it’s neither. This test gives you somewhere sensible to start giving you confidence in your food choices.
Prefer to come in? You can have the Gold test done at our Inverness clinic and Iona will take the sample for you, at no extra charge
This test isn’t suitable if you are:
- Under two years old
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Taking immunosuppressants, and have been for eight weeks or more
- Taking steroid medication, and have been for eight weeks or more (inhalers and creams are fine)
What Your Results Look Like
Your results arrive as a traffic light system, so you can see at a glance which foods are problematic.
Red (elevated): These showed the strongest response. Our advice is to take them out of your diet for twelve weeks and replace them with something else.
Amber (borderline): A smaller response. Most people keep these for occasional meals rather than every day, or rotate them so they’re not eating them constantly.
Green (normal): No meaningful response, so these are fine to carry on eating. The only exception is a food you already know you’re allergic to, which is a different thing to a food intolerance. (this test doesn’t measure for full blown allergies).
Support: You’ll also get the TESTme Handbook, which explains in full what to do with your list, and Iona is just an email away if you need further help.
Our Food Intolerance Test Kit will check for 270 Items
This includes all the major food groups, tea, coffee, herbs and spices, along with some of the most common foods such as fruits, vegetables, meat, nuts, legumes and much more.
The test is used internationally, so alongside the everyday foods there are some you might not expect: cordyceps and shiitake mushrooms, three kinds of seaweed, spirulina, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, tiger nut, cassava, cola nut, carob, and transglutaminase (the enzyme used commercially as meat glue)
How it works
Your food intolerance test delivered
Order online and we’ll post your kit first class to your home.
Take the test and post your sample
Take a small finger prick sample at home, following the instructions in the box
Download the Handbook
Download the TESTme Handbook for continuous support in your pocket
Get your results in 5-7 working days
of the laboratory receiving your sample
What this test can and can’t tell you
This test measures elevated IgG antibodies to specific foods. Raised IgG indicates your immune system has responded to something you’ve eaten. It’s a useful starting point, and it saves you guessing your way through the whole supermarket.
What it isn’t is a diagnosis. It won’t tell you that you have Coeliac or inflammatory bowel disease. And it won’t tell you if you have a full blown allergy. You need a GP and different testing for these.
However, if you genuinely aren’t feeling your best and think food is contributing, then this test is a great place to start.
What’s included
- Free Post and Package both ways (1st class)
- Alcohol Wipes – For sterilising your skinbefore and after finger prick
- Disposable Lancet – 2 included for finger prick. Please let Iona know if you need more and she will happily send extras.
- Blood Collection Card – To collect a small amount of blood for testing
- Self Addressed Bag – For returning your sample
TESTme Handbook
What is the TESTme Handbook?
Every test comes with the TESTme Handbook which explains how to read your results, which foods to prioritise, then gets practical: For example; what to eat instead of the usual suspects; gluten, wheat, dairy, and eggs.
The 106 page guide written by Iona (owner of TESTme), is sent to you as a PDF, so it sits on your phone for reference when you need it.
There are also some useful chapters on gut health, hydration and what your symptoms might be telling you, because food is rarely the whole story.
More about the TESTme Handbook
And if that’s not enough; if you need further help, Iona is just an email away.
Good to know before ordering
The Gold test works best with foods you’ve been eating regularly before taking your sample.
If you’ve completely avoided a food for more than eight weeks, your antibody levels may have dropped, which means it may not show up in results. If there’s a specific food you’d like to know about, have a small amount in the week or two before testing, but only if it’s safe to do so.
Please don’t reintroduce anything that has caused a serious reaction or that a doctor has advised you to avoid.
Our clinic test in Inverness”uses a different method and doesn’t rely on measuring IgG antibodies. So this may be worth considering if you already avoid certain foods.
The Gold test isn’t suitable during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. It may also be unsuitable if you’ve taken immunosuppressants or steroid medication for eight weeks or longer, although steroid inhalers and creams are fine. If you’re unsure about your medication, get in touch before ordering.
FAQ’s
How to order
Your kit is fulfilled by our partner laboratory, so clicking Add to Basket takes you to their site.
Choose FoodSensitivityMap 270. The lab’s own price is £300. Enter TESTMEHEALTH26 in the discount bar and it comes down to £195, which is the practitioner rate for TESTme clients.
Check the total says £195 before you click pay. If it doesn’t, don’t worry. Please just email me and I can talk you through it.
Why is the price lower here than on the lab’s own site?
Practitioners have discounted rates with labs, and our discount code is what allows you to order the test at a reduced price. Same test, same lab, same report.
How much does a food intolerance test cost in the UK?
At TESTme, the Gold test costs £195 and covers 270 foods and drinks. The Junior test costs £145 and covers 130 foods, while an in-clinic appointment in Inverness costs £95.
Delivery and return postage are included with our home test kits.
Can I do a food intolerance test at home?
Yes. We’ll send the kit directly to you with everything needed to collect a small finger-prick blood sample at home. Once you’ve finished, simply return it to the laboratory using the prepaid envelope provided.
If you’d prefer some help, I can take the sample for you at the TESTme clinic in Inverness at no extra cost.
How long do food intolerance test results take?
Your results will usually be ready within five to seven working days of your sample reaching the laboratory.
They’ll be sent to you by email along with the TESTme Handbook, with support available if you have any questions.
What does the Gold food intolerance test measure?
The Gold test uses a small finger-prick blood sample to measure food-specific IgG responses to 270 foods and drinks.
Your sample is analysed by our laboratory partner, and the results are presented using a simple traffic-light system showing red, amber and green foods.
How comprehensive is the Gold food intolerance test?
The Gold test covers 270 foods and drinks, making it our most comprehensive food intolerance test.
The panel includes dairy, wheat and other grains, eggs, meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, nuts, pulses, herbs, spices, tea and coffee. It’s used internationally, so you’ll also find some less familiar foods on the list.
Are food intolerance and food sensitivity the same thing?
Yes. You may have heard the words ‘food intolerance’ or ‘food sensitivity’ to describe the same type of unwanted reaction to food.
A food allergy is different and can cause a rapid, potentially serious reaction. The Gold test doesn’t diagnose food allergies, so any swelling, breathing difficulties or sudden reactions should always be discussed with your GP.
Why does the Gold test require a blood sample and not a hair sample?
The Gold test requires a small blood sample because the laboratory is measuring food-specific IgG antibodies.
These antibodies can be measured in blood but not in hair. The sample is collected using a simple finger-prick kit at home, or Iona can take it for you at the TESTme clinic in Inverness at no extra cost.
Does the Gold test check for coeliac disease?
No. The Gold test measures IgG responses to foods, including wheat and other gluten-containing grains, but it cannot diagnose or rule out coeliac disease.
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition that requires separate medical testing. If you think you may have it, speak to your GP before removing gluten, as gluten usually needs to remain in your diet while the tests are carried out.
When will I notice a difference after following my results?
There’s no set timescale because everyone’s symptoms and circumstances are different.
Some people notice changes quite quickly, while others may need longer. If symptoms start to settle down, then you’ve learned something genuinely useful. This allows you to make informed decisions around the foods you choose to include (or not include) in your diet.
Will I have to avoid foods I’m intolerant to forever?
No, not necessarily. We usually suggest removing problematic foods for around 12 weeks while monitoring how you feel.
You can then reintroduce foods one at a time to see how you respond. The TESTme Handbook takes you through this process step by step and helps you find suitable replacements along the way.
Who is the Gold food intolerance test suitable for?
The Gold test is suitable from age two and is designed for anyone who wants our widest food panel. For children and teenagers aged 2 to 17, our Junior food intolerance test offers a smaller panel of 130 common foods.
Not suitable during pregnancy, breastfeeding or if you use long term immunosupressants.
Should I choose the Gold blood test or the clinic BER test?
Choose the Gold test if you want our widest panel of 270 items and are happy to provide a small finger-prick blood sample. You can collect the sample at home or visit the TESTme clinic and Iona will take it for you at no extra cost.
Choose the clinic food intolerance test if you’d prefer a face-to-face appointment, don’t want a blood test and would like your results during the appointment. It uses a different testing method and can also look at additives such as colourings, preservatives and sweeteners.
Will my IgG food intolerance test be accurate?
The Gold test shows whether raised food-specific IgG antibodies have been detected in your blood. It cannot prove that a particular food is causing your symptoms and shouldn’t be treated as a medical diagnosis.
However, what it does give you is a clearer place to start. Rather than removing foods at random, you can carry out a more focused food trial, monitor how you feel and carefully reintroduce foods afterwards.
Are food intolerance tests worth it?
A food intolerance test can be worthwhile if you want a clearer place to start rather than continuing to remove foods at random.
It won’t provide a medical diagnosis, but it can help narrow things down and guide a more structured food trial. You’ll also receive the TESTme Handbook and ongoing support, so you’re not left trying to make sense of the results alone.
What Causes a Food Intolerance?
Food intolerances are often linked to our favourite foods, especially the ones we eat in high amounts. One explanation is that repeated exposure prompts the immune system to respond, and that response shows up as symptoms.
There are however several other factors to consider:
- Genetics
- Stress, both physical and emotional
- Gut health, including after a stomach bug or a course of antibiotics
- A diet low in fibre
- How much processed food is in the diet
- Eating the same foods with little variety
Unlike a food allergy, which is an immediate immune response and can be serious, a food intolerance usually causes milder symptoms and can take up to 72 hours to show up. That gap is why intolerances are so hard to spot on your own. By the time you notice, you’ve likely eaten several other meals since.
If you’re not sure or have any questions, get in touch with Iona.
Food Intolerance/Sensitivity Disclaimer
A note on what this test does
Food intolerance means something specific here. We’re measuring a food-specific IgG response, which shows your immune system has reacted to something you’ve eaten. That’s a useful place to start, and it saves you working through your whole diet by trial and error.
It isn’t a diagnosis. It won’t tell you whether you have coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease or a food allergy, and it can’t rule any of those out either. Those need your GP and different tests. If you’ve ever had a fast or severe reaction to food, swelling, hives or trouble breathing we suggest you contact your GP first.
We don’t claim to treat or cure anything. What we do is help you work out which foods are worth looking at, and support you while you find out.
If you’re under a doctor for anything, or taking regular medication, talk to them before you make big changes to what you eat. If you’re not sure whether this test is right for you, get in touch before you order. It’s a two minute conversation and it saves you buying the wrong thing.
IBS means irritable bowel syndrome, a common condition affecting the digestive system. It causes stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation, which tend to come and go but can last for days or weeks at a time.