top of page
Surgeon at Work

General Anaesthesia Allergy Testing

What is general anaesthesia allergy testing?

General anaesthesia allergy testing is a specialist diagnostic service used when an allergic reaction has occurred, or is suspected to have occurred, during or shortly after the administration of anaesthetic drugs. These reactions may range from mild symptoms to severe, life-threatening responses such as anaphylaxis.

The aim of testing usually is to identify the specific item/drug responsible for the reaction, so that future procedures can be planned safely using appropriate alternatives.
Scratch Test

Our adult allergy specialist

Dr Gururaj Arumugakani is a Consultant Allergist and Immunologist with decades of experience, currently practicing at UCLH.  He is an expert in general anaesthesia allergy testing and performs the testing with a high level of skill & care. ​
​

What Does the Testing Involve?

​
A comprehensive panel of relevant anaesthetic drugs is tested, tailored to the medications used during the original procedure and current clinical guidelines.​​

​

Why is Testing Important?

General anaesthesia allergy testing helps to:
 
  • Identify the causative drug
  • Exclude drugs that are safe to use
  • Guide anaesthetists on safe alternatives for future procedures
  • Reduce anxiety for patients requiring further surgery
     
Specialist allergy testing allows surgical procedures to go ahead in the safest possible way.
​
Testing can take place 4 weeks or more after the reaction occurred. 

What to expect

Testing typically takes approximately half a day. This allows sufficient time for:
 
  • Skin prick testing
  • Intradermal testing
  • Observation following testing
  • Discussion of results and next steps
     
Following completion of testing:
  • A detailed report is provided
  • Clear guidance is given regarding which anaesthetic drugs should be avoided
  • Recommendations are made for safe alternatives for future procedures
  • Information can be shared with your surgical and anaesthetic teams (with your consent)
Fitzrovia ward room.jpg

How it works:

An initial consultation is required for the doctor to assess the situation and plan the testing.  
 
All general anaesthesia allergy testing is carried out at Fitzrovia Hospital, a fully equipped clinical setting with immediate access to emergency facilities.
 
Patient safety is our highest priority, and testing is conducted under close medical supervision.


Call the clinic on 0207 637 9711 to speak to a friendly member of the team for advice, or email on enquiries@londonallergyclinic.com to book an appointment. 

If what you are looking for has not been mentioned, give us a call and we will let you know how we can help.

!
Widget Didn’t Load
Check your internet and refresh this page.
If that doesn’t work, contact us.
bottom of page