Getting an Allergy Test in Japan

Despite my whole family having allergies, I had never gotten a simple allergy test done before.

My ears have been itchy and extra uncomfortable from pressure changes this rainy season. Not my typical runny nose allergy symptoms, but before seeing an ENT, it made sense to rule out allergy causing this first.

I found a small clinic nearby specializing in allergy for adults,  as opposed to primarily for children.

I think the blood tests in the US for allergy check more like 50 things. Here they did a test of 12 potential allergens. The doctor did a quick consultation to check why I wanted to do the test (and approve if insurance would cover it). I didn't expect this to be something covered by insurance, but he thought my history of atopy and previously established dust and penicillin allergy was enough to warrant running a blood test.

He asked about what things I wanted to test, so I went with a couple of plants that bloom in fall, when I get hay fever symptoms: rice and ragweed. I also chose a few of the common food allergens – milk, egg, wheat.

Potato was also tested as I did an exclusion diet years ago that showed a sweet potato allergy. Regular potatoes were a mild sensitivity, causing some joint inflammation.

For foods, there are two or three things they test each, for example the egg proteins, egg white and egg yolk separately; wheat, gluten, plus some part of wheat proteins I had never heard of.

For background, the exclusion diet is a more accurate way of testing food sensitivities, but after some point I didn't test all the foods, one thing at a time carefully; nor do I have the notes on what my reactions were. 

After taking blood, I was told results would be ready in about a week. Japanese is vague so I thought they were going to call me for some reason. A week later, I hadn't heard anything and realized I was just supposed to go in. (This is the same for the regular health check results.)

The Cost

The before insurance cost for a first clinic visit and 12 type allergy test was almost 20,000 yen. It came to just under 6,000 with insurance. The follow up visit for results was 400 yen after insurance.

The Result

It was a bit inconclusive because only select things were tested, although now I know I have no allergic reaction to what was tested. The doctor said I have nothing to worry about as far as food allergy.

Next will be to ask an ENT if there is something going on in my ears.