I’m curious about what environmental allergens, and foods I might be allergic too.
My 3 options were:
- Buy a do-it-yourself home allergy testing kit which gets sent to Australia for analysis (about $500)
- Go to a specialist allergy clinic
- 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
- 1st Ave Medical Centre
- 16 1st Ave, Tauranga CBD
- 7.30am – 6.00pm M-F + 7.30am – 12noon Saturday
- Phone: (07) 577 4511
- Papamoa Doctors
- 26 Gravatt Rd, Fashion Island, Papamoa
- 8.30am – 4.00pm
- Phone: (07) 572 3780
- Palm Springs Medical Centre
- 3 Palm Springs Boulevard, Papamoa
- 8.00am – 12noon
- Phone: (07) 542 9003
- 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.