Is an allergy injection the same as an allergy test?

No. A test finds out what you react to, and an injection is a treatment. At our clinic you can book either, but Dr Pereira usually wants the test result first so the treatment matches the cause.

Is there an allergy vaccine?

People use the phrase for allergen desensitisation, but it works differently from a vaccine. It lowers an immune reaction you already have, where a vaccine builds protection against an infection. If you are asking about it for hay fever, a consultation is where Dr Pereira says whether it suits you.

How long does desensitisation take?

Courses run over months to years, not weeks. Dr Pereira agrees the schedule with you after testing.

Can I book Omlyclo without seeing Dr Pereira first?

Omlyclo is started and continued by Dr Pereira only. Call 0207 499 1991 and the team will arrange your first visit.

Do I have to wait weeks for an appointment?

Allergy clinics run each Tuesday afternoon, and you can book an allergy consultation online. Skin prick results arrive in the room, and ALEX3 results typically take five working days.

Can children have allergy treatment?

Dr Pereira sees children as well as adults, and a parent or legal guardian attends with them. Whether a child is tested by skin prick, ALEX3 or the children's blood panel (£376.25) is his decision at the appointment. Omlyclo has age limits that depend on the condition, which he checks against the licence at your visit.

How Much Is a Private Allergy Injection in London?

Maybe it's hay fever that tablets no longer touch, hives that have lasted months, or asthma that still flares on a full set of inhalers. Someone has mentioned an injection. It is a fair thing to ask about, because "allergy injection" covers three quite different treatments.

At Medical Express Clinic the injections are given by Dr Scott Pereira, Consultant Immunologist, at 117a Harley Street. Omlyclo is £500 per visit, with the consultation and the injection bundled in that fee. Allergen desensitisation is agreed with him at a consultation, which is £250. If you would rather talk it through first, call 0207 499 1991 or book an allergy consultation.

The three things people mean by "allergy injection"

Treatment	What it does	Do we offer it?
Omlyclo (omalizumab biosimilar)	Add-on treatment for severe persistent allergic asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and chronic spontaneous urticaria, when licensed criteria are met	Yes. Started and continued by Dr Pereira only, every dose in clinic
Allergen desensitisation (immunotherapy)	Small, gradually increasing doses of an allergen so the immune system reacts less to it over time	Yes, when Dr Pereira judges it appropriate. Agreed at a consultation
Emergency auto-injector	Carried by people at risk of a severe reaction and used in an emergency	A prescribed emergency item, not a course of treatment. Dr Pereira can assess whether you need one

Only the first two are treatments you book a series of visits for. Which one fits depends on what is causing your symptoms, and that is where the appointment starts.

What it costs at our clinic

Each step is a separate fixed fee, so you can see what you are paying for before you book.

Step	Price	What you get
Allergy consultation	£250	History, examination and a plan with Dr Pereira. Tests are extra unless you book skin prick testing
Skin prick testing	£450	Consultation included, up to eight allergens, results in the room within about 15 to 20 minutes
ALEX3 blood test	£413.75	One sample screens 290+ allergens. Written report, typically within five working days
Targeted blood panels	£155 to £752.50	A defined group of allergens when your history already points one way. Results in two to five working days
Omlyclo	£500 per visit	The consultation and the in-clinic injection together
Allergen desensitisation	Agreed at consultation	Dr Pereira chooses the allergen and the schedule after testing

Here is how that works out in practice. Choosing skin prick testing at £450 costs £200 more than the consultation alone, and that £200 buys the testing and up to eight allergens in the same visit. A consultation followed by ALEX3 comes to £663.75, but ALEX3 can also be booked on its own at £413.75 if you already know a wide screen is what you want. Book ALEX3 or book skin prick testing directly if one already fits.

Omlyclo: who gives it and for what

Omlyclo is a biosimilar of omalizumab, the medicine sold originally as Xolair. At Medical Express Clinic it is started and continued by Dr Pereira alone, and he gives every dose himself, in clinic. He reviews how you respond before treatment carries on.

It is used as add-on therapy for three conditions, once licensed criteria are met:

severe persistent allergic asthma, to improve control
chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in adults aged 18 and over, alongside nasal steroid sprays, when the sprays have not given enough control
chronic spontaneous urticaria (long-lasting hives) in anyone aged 12 and over whose symptoms have not settled on antihistamines

Return visits are arranged when control starts to fade, not on a fixed four-week calendar, so the number of visits follows your response rather than a template. That is also why a total cost can't be quoted in advance: each visit is £500, and Dr Pereira tells you what he expects at your first appointment. To arrange a visit, call 0207 499 1991.

Which treatment fits your symptoms

What you're dealing with	Where it usually starts	What may follow
Hay fever, dust mite or pet allergy that medicine no longer controls	Consultation, then skin prick or ALEX3 to name the trigger	Allergen desensitisation, if Dr Pereira judges it appropriate
Hives lasting more than six weeks	A £250 consultation. Our guide to hives explains the tests	Omlyclo, for chronic spontaneous urticaria not settled by antihistamines
Severe asthma with an allergic trigger	Consultation to confirm the allergic link	Omlyclo, when licensed criteria are met
Nasal polyps and a blocked nose that sprays haven't fixed	Consultation	Omlyclo, in adults who meet the criteria
A reaction to an insect sting	Consultation. The insects blood panel is £240	Dr Pereira advises on the next step
Reactions to food	Skin prick testing, ALEX3 or a food panel, chosen from your history	Avoidance advice. Food panels show sensitisation, not intolerance

Not sure which row you are? The consultation is built for exactly that. Dr Pereira's work covers allergic rhinitis, urticaria, angioedema, insect sting allergy, food allergy and allergen desensitisation, and he sees children as well as adults, with a parent or guardian present.

Why testing comes before treatment

A raised result on any allergy test shows sensitisation. It becomes a diagnosis only when it fits your story, and treatment is chosen from the diagnosis. Our guide to choosing between skin prick and blood tests walks through the options. If you are booking skin prick testing, stop antihistamines three days (72 hours) beforehand and keep taking everything else. ALEX3 and blood panels don't need that.

What the appointment is like

Allergy consultations and skin prick testing run on Tuesdays, 14:00 to 17:30, at 117a Harley Street. Visits usually last 30 to 60 minutes. Bring a list of your current medicines, any earlier allergy results, and photographs of a rash or swelling. For skin prick testing you can also bring a suspected food or substance.

Allergen treatment has to be given where a reaction can be dealt with at once, which is the reason every injection here is given in clinic and not at home. If a reaction ever involves difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue or throat, or collapse, call 999.

If your hay fever is mild and settles with pharmacy treatment, a first conversation with one of our private GPs is a sensible start.

Ready to find out which injection, if any, suits you?

See the full range of private allergy testing and treatment at Medical Express Clinic, book an allergy consultation for £250, or call 0207 499 1991.

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