YorkTest

YorkTest: food intolerance and allergy testing from home

YorkTest is a British company dedicated to food intolerance and allergy testing. Its approach is based on blood test kits that the user completes at home and sends by post to its own laboratory, where the samples are processed. The company has more than 40 years of experience in this field and presents itself as a leading provider of home health tests in the United Kingdom.

YorkTest's laboratory holds ISO 13485 certification and is audited, which places the company, according to its own presentation, at the forefront of scientific innovation. The firm specialises in measuring IgG antibody reactions to foods, an approach the company describes as consistent with NHS guidance, which recognises food intolerance as a condition and the role of blood tests in its assessment.

Range of intolerance and allergy tests

YorkTest's range includes several tests aimed at identifying food sensitivities and allergies. Featured products include:

• Premium Food Intolerance Test: analyses reactivity to 200 food and drink ingredients. Its list price at the time of analysis was £199, with an offer of £139.
• Food Allergy Test: assesses 23 food allergens and 19 environmental allergens, including milk, wheat, rice, nuts, chicken, beef and pork, cat, horse and dog dander, birch and house dust mites.
• Food Intolerance & Allergy Bundle: combines both tests for those unsure whether they have an intolerance or an allergy. List price £329, reduced to £230.
• Junior Food Intolerance Test: a version adapted for children.
• Couples Food Intolerance Bundle: an intolerance test for couples, with a list price of £329 and an offer of £230.

The shop also offers family packs, such as the Parent & Child Food Intolerance Bundle and the Family Food Intolerance Bundle, as well as a Complete Health & Nutrition Bundle.

General health and wellbeing tests

In addition to intolerance and allergy tests, YorkTest sells a line of health analyses covering different areas. The range includes:

• Gut Microbiome Test (gut health)
• Annual Health Test and Essential Health Check
• Stress (Cortisol) Test
• Female Hormones Test, Female Fertility Test and Menopause Test
• Thyroid Test
• Male Hormones Test
• Liver Function Test
• Cholesterol Test
• Inflammation (CRP) Test
• Vitamin D Test
• Metabolic Health Test

These tests are grouped into categories such as gut health, general health and hormones, and can be purchased separately or in combined packs.

How the service works and nutritional support

The testing process consists of four steps: the customer receives the kit by post, takes a blood sample via finger-prick, sends it to the laboratory in the prepaid envelope and receives the results online within seven days. The company offers a 30-minute consultation with a nutritionist to interpret the results and provide guidance on possible food eliminations and reintroductions. These consultations are personalised and can be adapted to pre-existing diets, such as vegetarian or vegan, and include recommendations on supplements to repair the gut.

YorkTest also offers an additional consultation service, including food intolerance consultation, supplements consultation, gut microbiome consultation, metabolic health consultation and follow-on consultation. The company has an in-house team of nutritionists and customer service staff to support the user after receiving their results.

Supplements and educational resources

The company complements its offering with a line of supplements, including magnesium citrate powder, aloe vera complex, quercetin & nettle complex, natural enzymes and gut bacteria supplements. It also maintains an advice section with articles on intolerances, allergies, common symptoms, free-from recipes and a blog, as well as a section called the YorkTest Wellness Hub.

Reported results and positioning

According to data published by the company itself, 82% of customers reported that their YorkTest Laboratories test had a positive impact on their health and wellbeing. The firm presents itself as the UK's number one in food intolerance and allergy blood test kits, and supports its activity with case studies from users describing improvements in symptoms such as acne, fatigue, bloating, migraines, digestive problems or psoriasis. YorkTest stresses that its tests do not diagnose allergies, lactose intolerance or coeliac disease, and that the results are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice.