Molecular Allergy Blood Test

ALEX³ Allergy Test — Advanced Molecular Allergy Blood Test

Screen for up to 300 food and airborne allergens from a single small blood sample, using the same multiplex microarray technology used in allergy clinics across more than 90 countries.

Order Your ALEX³ Test at Home

What Is the ALEX³ Allergy Test?

The ALEX³ Allergy Test is an advanced molecular allergy blood test that checks up to 300 allergenic components in a single test — covering both food allergens and airborne (inhalant) allergens. Because it tests so many components at once, it gives a broader picture of allergy risk than many standard single-allergen blood tests.

The test uses modern microarray (multiplex) technology to measure allergen-specific IgE antibodies with high precision, alongside total IgE. Rather than testing against a whole allergen extract (for example, “peanut”), ALEX³ can identify IgE reactivity to individual molecular components within that allergen. This component-resolved approach helps distinguish a genuine allergy from a harmless “cross-reactivity” with a similar pollen or food protein.

For this reason, the ALEX³ Allergy Test is particularly useful when:

• Symptoms are unclear or don’t obviously point to one trigger
• Results from earlier allergy tests don’t match reported symptoms
• There may be multiple allergies at once
• Cross-reactive allergies (e.g. pollen–food syndrome) are suspected
• Symptoms are complex, unusual, or affect several body systems

What Allergens Does the ALEX³ Allergy Test Cover?

ALEX³ checks many clinically important allergens across five broad categories — for example, it includes both airborne and food allergens on the same panel, alongside insect venoms and latex.

About the ALEX³ Technology & Its Manufacturer

ALEX³ is manufactured by Macro Array Diagnostics (MADx), a molecular diagnostics company based in Vienna, Austria that specialises in allergy and food-intolerance testing. MADx developed the original ALEX (“Allergy Xplorer”) platform as one of the first ELISA-based multiplex allergy tests able to measure total IgE and allergen-specific IgE at the same time, and has since released two further generations — ALEX² and, most recently, ALEX³.

ALEX³ was designed using real-world data from earlier ALEX² testing — several hundred thousand results gathered from laboratories in more than 90 countries. MADx used this dataset to review which allergen components were clinically useful, which were rarely positive or redundant, and where coverage gaps existed. The result is a redesigned panel that adds around 50 new allergen markers (including allergens such as alpha-gal and additional respiratory and food components) while retiring components that added little diagnostic value, giving ALEX³ its current coverage of roughly 300 allergen specificities on one array.

Because the whole panel runs from one small blood or serum sample using microarray technology, ALEX³ can screen a broad range of possible triggers without the need for separate blood draws or repeat visits for each suspected allergen.

Clinical Evidence & Validation Studies

The ALEX platform has been assessed in several independent, peer-reviewed studies and manufacturer-sponsored trials:

• A registered diagnostic accuracy trial run by MacroArray Diagnostics (MADMAX, ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04435678) enrolled 837 participants — 689 with allergy and 148 without — to assess the accuracy of the ALEX-family test system against pre-defined high-priority allergens.
• An independent validation study of ALEX² (Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 2021) tested 153 allergic patients and 16 non-atopic controls and found adequate sensitivity and specificity for most allergens studied, broadly comparable to the established ImmunoCAP ISAC platform and to single-allergen ImmunoCAP extract testing.
• A study in peanut-sensitised children (Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2023) found that combining ALEX² results for the components Ara h2 and Ara h6 with a skin prick test raised diagnostic accuracy for peanut allergy above 90%.
• A study in atopic dermatitis patients with reactions to egg found that sensitivity for individual egg components ranged from roughly 21–53%, and the authors recommended that food allergy still be evaluated clinically even when a specific IgE component result is negative.

ALEX³ itself is a data-driven refinement of ALEX², built from an analysis of almost 400,000 real-world ALEX² results, with the panel updated to improve coverage and reduce low-value or redundant allergen components.

Important Information Before Testing

The ALEX³ Allergy Test is simple to prepare for, and most people can take it without changing their daily routine:

• Antihistamines do not affect the results
• No fasting is needed
• Diet does not influence the outcome

However, no blood test is perfect — false-positive or false-negative results can occur in rare cases, even though the laboratory follows strict quality standards.

Ordering & Sample Instructions

ALEX³ Allergy Test at Home

Please follow these steps carefully — this ensures accurate results:

1. Order the ALEX³ Allergy Test on its own at checkout — do not combine it with other tests
2. If needed, buy additional tests as separate orders
3. Choose home testing or a clinic visit
4. Label the sample tube with your full name and date of birth

Choose How You Take the ALEX³ Allergy Test

Frequently Asked Questions

How many allergens does the ALEX³ test check?

ALEX³ measures IgE reactivity to roughly 300 allergen specificities in one sample, combining molecular allergen components with allergen extracts across food, airborne, venom and latex categories.

Do I need to stop taking antihistamines before the test?

No. Because ALEX³ is a blood test rather than a skin prick test, antihistamines, diet and fasting do not affect the result.

How long does it take to get ALEX³ results?

Once your sample reaches the laboratory, results are typically available in the online portal within a few days.

Is a positive ALEX³ result the same as having an allergy?

Not necessarily. ALEX³ detects IgE sensitisation. A positive result means your immune system recognises that allergen, but this does not always translate into symptoms on exposure. Always review results with a GP or allergy specialist.

Can children take the ALEX³ test?

Yes — If you are comfortable to take a fingerprick or heal prick sample from your child or have a local healthcare professional to help remote test might be an option. Alternatively in-clinic ALEX³ test is suitable for both adults and children. Speak to the clinic team if you have questions about testing a child.