Where To Get Allergy Tests, RAST Test, Skin Prick Tests in the Tauranga Area

I’m curious about what environmental allergens, and foods I might be allergic too.

My 3 options were:

  1. Buy a do-it-yourself home allergy testing kit which gets sent to Australia for analysis (about $500)
  2. Go to a specialist allergy clinic
  3. Go to a doctor and get a referral through the public health system

The DIY test is too expensive I think, so I discarded that option early on.

When I did a Google search for RAST tests, and allergy testing in Tauranga (including Mount Maunganui and Papamoa) the closest place I could find was The Allergy Centre in Hamilton, which is about 1.5 hours away.

So I ended up doing to the family doctor who then referred me to Pathlab who then gave me a list of 4 places in the Tauranga area where I can get this type of allergy test:

List of where to get a RAST Test a.k.a. “skin prick allergy test” in Tauranga

  1. 1st Ave Medical Centre
    • 16 1st Ave, Tauranga CBD
    • 7.30am – 6.00pm M-F + 7.30am – 12noon Saturday
    • Phone: (07) 577 4511
  2. Papamoa Doctors
    • 26 Gravatt Rd, Fashion Island, Papamoa
    • 8.30am – 4.00pm
    • Phone: (07) 572 3780
  3. Palm Springs Medical Centre
    • 3 Palm Springs Boulevard, Papamoa
    • 8.00am – 12noon
    • Phone: (07) 542 9003
  4. Welcome Bay Medical Centre
    • 2 Awanui Place, Welcome Bay, Tauranga
    • 8.00am – 1.00pm
    • Phone: (07) 544 9642

Commonly you’ll be tested for 18 allergens, and if you make your own appointment each prick will cost you $5, so that’s $90.

Otherwise, if you get a referral from your doctor (for the visitation fee of $35 – $50 of course), the test is free.

The only other thing you need to know is that you need to stop taking oral antihistamines for 3 – 10 days before your skin prick test so your body doesn’t suppress it’s allergic reaction to the substances.