wie teuer ist ein allergietest — what are common causes?

The cost of an allergy test varies widely by type and scope. A simple skin prick test by an allergologist in Germany costs about €20–50 (covered by insurance if indicated), a specific IgE blood test (single allergen) €10–30, and a comprehensive panel (e.g., 20–50 allergens) €100–300. Self-pay tests like ALEX² (295 allergens) range €200–400. Direct-to-consumer tests (e.g., cerascreen, mylab) cost €30–100 but are often not diagnostically valid – they typically measure total IgE or a few allergens without medical interpretation. Common allergy triggers include pollen (grasses, birch, ragweed), dust mites, animal dander, molds, and foods (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish). Insect venoms (bee, wasp) and drugs are also frequent causes. Crucially, a positive test alone does not confirm allergy – diagnosis requires symptom correlation and history. If severe reaction (anaphylaxis) is suspected, immediate medical evaluation is needed. Evidence: practice-based, no specific sources from context.