Histamine Intolerance Analysis
Blood and stool samples together measure accumulated histamine, DAO enzyme activity and IgE antibodies. Closer to the underlying metabolism than a skin allergen test and more objective than a food diary, it is the key tool for telling pseudo-allergy apart from genuine food allergy.
Worth testing if any of these apply:
- Headaches or skin flushing after fermented foods, aged meats or alcohol
- Allergen testing comes back negative
- Long-term use of medication that suppresses DAO activity
- Persistent migraine, bloating, nasal congestion or skin problems with no clear cause
What this test is for
Blood and stool samples together measure accumulated histamine, DAO enzyme activity and IgE antibodies. Closer to the underlying metabolism than a skin allergen test and more objective than a food diary, it is the key tool for telling pseudo-allergy apart from genuine food allergy.
Your body has a histamine bucket. Histamine taken in from food, released by mast cells and triggered by stress all keep pouring into it, while the DAO enzyme acts as the tap that metabolises and clears it away. When stress, nutrient deficiency, medication or gut microbiome imbalance stop DAO working properly, the bucket slowly overflows — flushed itchy skin, migraine, bloating, blocked nose and palpitations appear one after another, yet no real allergen can be found. Histamine intolerance analysis exists to show you which it is: a broken tap, or too much water coming in?
Test items
3 biomarkers · 2 groups
Category
Histamine
Diamine Oxidase
Immunoglobulin E
Four steps to start your test
Order online, book a location
Choose your test and pick a blood-draw time and location that suits you as you order.
A 10-minute blood draw
When the time comes you just show up. A professional takes your sample — we handle the rest.
Accredited laboratory analysis
Samples are processed by accredited testing institutions and interpreted to standard protocols.
Digital report
Once complete, your report is uploaded to your personal account with values and reference ranges clearly marked.
Pair it with Body Decode for the full picture
This test isn't part of the core package. Build a whole-body baseline with Body Decode, then add this test on top for fuller health context
| Body Decode + this add-on | This test on its own | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of biomarkers | 68 + this test's 3 | This test's 3 only |
| Biomarkers on this page | ||
| Cross-system interpretation | ||
| Full-system integrated report | ||
| Advisor report walkthrough | ||
| Personalized action plan | ||
| 120-day check-ins |
Frequently asked questions
Food makes me feel unwell — that's an allergy, isn't it?
Food allergy is driven by an IgE immune response and usually produces a strong reaction within minutes of eating. Histamine intolerance is a cumulative reaction caused by metabolic imbalance, often surfacing hours later or even the next day, and hard to pin to any specific food. The mechanisms are entirely different.
Testing IgE and DAO together is what separates the two.
My allergy test came back normal, so I must be fine
Conventional allergen testing only detects IgE-mediated reactions and cannot assess your capacity to metabolise histamine. If your IgE is normal yet you still have long-standing itchy skin, headaches and bloating, the metabolic pathway may be the real root.
Normal IgE doesn't mean no problem — DAO capacity needs assessing.
I don't eat anything unusual, so how could there be a problem?
High-histamine foods are remarkably everyday — red wine, cheese, yoghurt, sausage, tomato, spinach, avocado, canned fish, chocolate and fermented foods are all on the list. For someone with low DAO activity, even a healthy diet can be the trigger.
Many "healthy foods" are in fact high-histamine sources.
Can't I just avoid those foods instead of testing?
The high-histamine food list runs to more than 50 items; avoiding all of them is not only difficult but can create nutritional imbalance. Knowing your DAO activity and histamine load lets you build a personalised strategy of sensible restriction plus targeted nutrients, rather than endless elimination.
Precise dietary adjustment works better than blanket restriction.
My symptoms come and go, so it can't be serious
Coming and going is exactly how histamine intolerance behaves — it depends on your current accumulated load rather than any single food. Under stress, poor sleep, hormonal cycles or certain medications, DAO activity drops and the bucket overflows more easily. That isn't "not serious"; it's a signal reminding you again and again.
Fluctuating symptoms are the classic hallmark of histamine intolerance.
Histamine problems can't really be improved, can they?
Unlike genetically driven allergy, DAO activity is affected by nutrients (B6, copper, zinc, vitamin C), gut health, medication and stress — all variables you can change. After testing, most people feel a difference within weeks through dietary adjustment, targeted supplementation and lifestyle change.
DAO activity can be improved through nutrition and lifestyle.