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These easy allergy tests are simple to try at home.

Allergies are an unfortunate part of life. But, while you can suspect you have an allergy to something, you really won’t know for sure unless you get tested.

Most doctors recommend that you get tested in their office for the most accurate results, but there are at-home allergy tests on the market. And it’s only natural to be curious about which are the best at-home allergy tests.

OK, so…how can you find a good at-home allergy test? And when should you take one? Here’s what you need to know.

The concept behind at-home allergy tests is pretty simple: They help you determine if you have an allergy to something—pollen, ragweed, bugs, certain foods, and more—from the comfort of your home.

Each at-home allergy test is slightly different, but they generally involve pricking your finger to take a blood sample, mailing it to a lab, and getting your results days or weeks later. The tests usually look for the presence of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody reactivity to certain allergens, which would suggest that you could have an allergy.

We consulted allergists for their take on what to look for in an at-home allergy test (and what to steer clear of). We also looked at the most popular tests on the market and narrowed down the field by looking at factors like ease of use, efficiency, and value.

It depends. Every test is different but, in general, blood allergy testing—at-home or at a doctor’s office—“is pretty quick and accurate,” says Kara Wada, M.D., an allergist-immunologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

While doctors say that at-home allergy tests can be accurate, you may still not get the results you need. “The issue with at-home testing is the interpretation of the results rather than the accuracy of the test result,” says Craig Jones, M.D., medical director of otolaryngology at Mass. Eye and Ear, Cape Cod. “Allergy is a clinical diagnosis based on history. Testing is used to confirm the clinical suspicion.”

A good example Dr. Jones gives: If you only have symptoms in the fall, doctors will generally look for fall weed pollens and mold spores as a likely allergen. “If I do an allergen panel and I identify cedar pollen, grass pollen, and ragweed pollen sensitivities, I am going to consider the patient ‘allergic’ to ragweed as it correlates with the symptoms,” he explains. “I would consider the cedar and grass as sensitivities, but they wouldn’t be clinically significant as they do not correlate with symptoms.”

Food testing can be particularly tricky, says Catherine Monteleone, M.D., an allergist-immunologist and professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “Even when I do food tests, it’s really 50/50 if it’s meaningful,” she says. You could have a sensitivity to something like lactose, she says, but not really have any symptoms—so it wouldn’t be considered an allergy. But, if you do testing at home and get those results, you might unnecessarily steer clear of dairy products. “It really can upend your life,” Dr. Monteleone says.

Everylywell’s Indoor & Outdoor Allergy test looks for the presence of 40 different common allergens, including seven types of grasses, 14 types of trees, four types of mold, and two types of pet allergens. The test is done through a finger prick and sent to a lab via a pre-paid envelope. You’ll get results that have been reviewed by a doctor within days.

TestMyAllergy’s Combined Allergy & Intolerance test looks for 78 different allergies and intolerances, including food and environmental allergens. Samples, which are collected by a finger prick, go to the TestMyAllergy lab. You’ll get results in days, along with recommendations on next steps.

Walk-in-Lab’s Allergy Stinging Insect Profile Blood Test is the closest thing you can get to having your doctor order tests for you. It allows you to choose from testing done by LabCorp or Quest and sends you to your nearest lab to have a panel done. The test looks for sensitivities to a range of stinging insects, including honeybees, paper wasps, and yellow jackets. Tests results are available within five to seven days.

Allergists aren’t huge on food allergy testing that isn’t overseen by them, but this could help give you some clue about your sensitivities while you're waiting for an appointment at your allergist's office. A sensitivity, in case you’re not familiar with the term, describes a food that can cause you to have a reaction that’s detectable in testing but isn’t a true allergy (an allergy actually activates your immune system; a sensitivity does not). To accurately diagnose an allergy, you need to have had an actual reaction to a food in the past, making this a tricky thing to diagnose in an at-home test if you haven’t done an elimination diet and food challenge. Everlywell’s test looks for reactivity to 204 foods, with the test taken by finger prick. Simply take the sample and mail it in the pre-paid envelope. You’ll get results in days.

✔️ Figure out what kind of allergy test you’ll need. It’s important to know what you even need an allergy test for when you’re shopping around. If you’re taking an at-home allergy test just because, you may find certain sensitivities but not really get any meaningful information—especially if you’re not having any symptoms, Dr. Monteleone says. Knowing what you’re looking for in advance—a pollen allergy, pet allergy, etc.—will help you get more meaningful information.

✔️ Look for ones with accurate results. Accuracy is important here. You’ll want to select a test that has data that will stand behind it. Otherwise, you could be wasting your money.

✔️ Know the testing process in advance. Some at-home tests require you to go to a lab for a blood draw; others rely on a finger prick. Factor in your lifestyle, level of squeamishness with blood, and things like your ability to pop out to a lab during regular working hours before making a decision.