Cost of Allergy Testing
across the UK

# Allergy Testing Accreditation in the UK

Several key regulatory bodies and accreditation schemes govern allergy testing services in the UK. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) registers and inspects independent healthcare providers, including those offering allergy testing, and their ratings are publicly available. The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) sets standards for diagnostic pathology services, while the Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA) UK scheme accredits laboratories performing diagnostic tests to internationally recognised ISO 15189 standards. For practitioners themselves, membership of bodies such as the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) or registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) indicates professional training and adherence to ethical guidelines. Understanding these distinctions matters because they signal different levels of oversight: CQC registration covers the broader clinic, CPA accreditation focuses on laboratory quality, and professional memberships reflect individual practitioner credentials.

To verify a provider's accreditation, start by checking the CQC register on their website, where you can view inspection reports and ratings for any private clinic. Ask the allergy testing provider directly for evidence of their laboratory accreditation—CPA-accredited labs should be able to produce their current certificate—and confirm that the clinician conducting the assessment is registered with the HCPC or holds membership in relevant professional bodies like BSACI. You can cross-reference these credentials using the HCPC's public register and the BSACI website. This verification matters because accreditation indicates that testing methods meet consistent quality standards, results are reliable, and the provider is subject to regular independent inspection and audit. Without it, you have less assurance that your test is performed correctly or that your results are trustworthy, which could lead to misdiagnosis and wasted money on unnecessary