The clocks have gone back, the evenings are dark by teatime and the Christmas markets are about to open. If heavy winter dinners leave you bloated, tired or foggy, you may be wondering how to get tested for food intolerance in Ireland, and who actually does it. This guide walks through your options: your GP and the HSE, the pharmacy, a registered dietitian and an at-home hair test, with prices in euro, so you can choose the route that suits you, whether you're in Dublin, Donegal or Dingle.
Intolerance or allergy: which are you asking about?
It helps to know which question you're asking before you book anything. A food allergy involves the immune system, usually comes on quickly and can be serious. A food intolerance or sensitivity tends to build more slowly, sometimes many hours after eating, and shows up as everyday discomfort: bloating, wind, tummy cramps, loose stools, headaches, tiredness or brain fog.
True allergies are only around 10% of reactions to food. Intolerances and sensitivities are the main cause of the everyday discomfort most people put up with, which is why so many people in Ireland start there. Our guide to recognising the symptoms of food intolerance and our symptoms page list the common signs.
If you ever have swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, or feel faint after eating, that's an emergency: call 112 or 999.
Option 1: your GP and the HSE
Your GP is the right first stop to rule out anything that needs medical care. What your GP can usually do:
- Coeliac disease: a blood test arranged through your GP. Keep eating gluten until you've been tested, because cutting it out first can affect the result. Coeliac disease is common in Ireland, so it's worth ruling out.
- Lactose: often looked at with a short trial without dairy.
- IBS: may be suggested if your symptoms fit, along with diet changes such as the low FODMAP approach.
- A referral: if your GP suspects a true allergy or a gut condition, they can refer you to an HSE hospital clinic, although waiting lists can be long.
What your GP usually won't do is test you for a wide range of everyday food sensitivities. That isn't what the public system is set up for, so many people come away with "keep a diary and see how you go".
A GP visit usually carries a fee in Ireland, unless you have a medical card or a GP visit card. For questions about health services, HSE Live is on freephone 1800 700 700.
Option 2: the pharmacy
Your local pharmacist is easy to reach without an appointment and can talk through over-the-counter help for symptoms like bloating, wind or reflux. Some pharmacies also stock home test kits of different kinds. If you're looking at one, ask what it actually checks, how the sample is taken and how long results take, so you can compare it fairly with other options.
Option 3: a registered dietitian
A registered dietitian can help you work through an elimination diet: cutting out suspected foods for a few weeks, then bringing them back one at a time. It's the step that turns a suspicion into real answers, and it's much easier when you know where to start. You can find a registered dietitian through the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI).
Whichever route you choose, start a food diary now. Our free food and symptom diary template makes it easy, and it gives your GP or dietitian something concrete to work with.
Option 4: an at-home hair sensitivity test
An at-home hair test works differently from anything your GP would order. It doesn't use blood and it doesn't measure antibodies. You send a small sample of hair, and our testing team uses bioresonance to look for potential sensitivity patterns across hundreds of food and non-food items, such as additives, metals and environmental items. Our guide to how hair sensitivity testing works explains the method in more detail.
There's no needle, no appointment and no waiting list, and your results come as a personalised report listing the items that showed a potential sensitivity. That gives you a shortlist to explore with your diary, rather than guessing. The Individual Sensitivity Test checks 600 items and is a good first step if your symptoms seem mainly food-related.
What a hair test can't do:
- It looks at sensitivities, not allergies. It won't tell you whether you have a food allergy. If you've had fast reactions such as hives or swelling, see your GP.
- It can't rule medical conditions in or out, such as coeliac disease or IBS. That's a job for your GP.
- It doesn't replace your GP or a dietitian. It gives you a starting point, and the real answers come from trying changes one food at a time.
Posting your sample from Ireland
In Ireland our tests come with digital instructions. You get a link by email, cut a small hair sample at home, pop it in a small bag and post it to us in your own envelope from any An Post office or postbox. The address and a step-by-step guide are in your instructions. Here's what you're ordering with digital instructions and what happens after you send your hair sample.
Results arrive in 5–7 working days once your sample is received. Postage time from Ireland is separate, so if you'd like your results before Christmas, it's worth posting early in the week and not leaving it until mid-December.
Want the widest range? The Optimum Sensitivity Test checks 1,600 items, covering food, drink, additives and environmental items in one go.
What our tests cost in Ireland
| Test | Items checked | 1 person | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Sensitivity Test | 600 | €29.95 | n/a | n/a |
| Ultimate Individual Test | 1,000 | €39.95 | €59.95 | €99.95 |
| Optimum Sensitivity Test | 1,600 | €49.95 | €79.95 | €139.95 |
Prices shown are for Irish orders on 31 October 2026, in euro, with digital instructions. Your current price is on each test page. Every hair sensitivity test comes with our 30-day 100% money-back guarantee.
Home for Christmas with the family? The Ultimate Individual Test and the Optimum test both come in 2- and 4-person versions, which work out cheaper per person. Not sure which level suits you? Our guide to comparing food sensitivity tests explains the differences, so we won't repeat it here.
A sensible order of steps
- See your GP to rule out anything that needs medical attention, including coeliac disease (keep eating gluten until you've been tested).
- Start a food and symptom diary straight away and keep it going for a few weeks.
- Take an at-home food sensitivity test Ireland if you'd like a shortlist of potential sensitivities to explore.
- Compare your results with your diary and look for items that appear in both.
- Trial changes one food at a time, ideally with a registered dietitian, so your diet stays balanced.
Reading labels helps whatever you find out. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland lists the 14 allergens that must be declared on food sold here, from milk, egg and cereals containing gluten to celery, mustard and sulphites, and restaurants and cafés must tell you about them too.
Common questions
Can my GP test me for food intolerance in Ireland? Your GP can test for coeliac disease, look at lactose with a dairy-free trial and refer you if a true allergy or gut condition is suspected. A wide-ranging sensitivity check isn't usually part of what the public system offers.
Does a hair test check for allergies? No. It looks for potential sensitivities and intolerances, not allergies. If you've had fast or severe reactions, talk to your GP.
How long do results take from Ireland? Results arrive in 5–7 working days once your sample is received. Postage from Ireland is separate.
What if I'm not happy? We offer a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee on hair sensitivity tests.
Ready to start? Compare our sensitivity tests and choose the one that suits you.
About our tests
Test My Food Sensitivity has offered at-home hair sensitivity tests since 2008. Our tests use bioresonance, which looks at energetic frequencies from a hair sample to identify potential sensitivity patterns. They don't measure immune antibodies (IgE or IgG) and they aren't a medical diagnosis. Use your personalised results as a starting point for exploration, and talk to your GP or a registered dietitian before making big or long-term changes to your diet.
