If you're in the UK and looking for a food intolerance test kit, you'll notice our tests come in two versions: a Physical Test Kit that arrives through your letterbox, or a Digital Test where the instructions come by email. Both use a real hair sample, and both lead to the same results. The difference is simply how you receive the instructions and what you post your sample in. This guide explains both, so you can pick the one that suits you before you order your food sensitivity test.
The short answer
- Choose the posted kit if you'd like everything in your hands: printed instructions and the collection materials, sent by tracked post to a UK address.
- Choose digital instructions if you'd rather start straight away and you're happy to use your own envelope. It's also the lower price.
The posted kit is a UK-only option. Customers in other countries use digital instructions, because we don't post kits outside the UK.
What "digital" really means
"Digital" sounds as if nothing physical happens, but that isn't the case. With the Digital Test, the instructions arrive digitally and you still cut and post a small hair sample to us. Nothing is done online in place of the sample. We explain this in more detail in digital instructions, real hair sample.
So the choice is about convenience and price, not about a "proper" test versus a "lite" one.
What the posted kit gives you
With the Physical Test Kit, your order is posted to you in the UK. According to our shipping policy, kits are usually processed in 1 to 2 business days and then sent by tracked delivery, which typically takes 2 to 5 business days. Delivery can take longer around bank holidays, and in the run-up to Christmas Royal Mail and the couriers get busier, so allow a little extra time in December.
The kit suits you if:
- you don't have a printer, or don't want to print anything;
- you're ordering for a parent or relative who prefers paper instructions;
- you're giving the test as a gift and want something to hand over.
What the digital option gives you
With the Digital Test, the instructions are emailed to you after you order, so you can usually take your sample the same day. You put the hair in a clean bag or folded paper, pop it in an envelope with the details asked for in the instructions, and post it from any postbox or Post Office.
It suits you if:
- you want to get started now rather than wait for a parcel;
- you're comfortable following instructions on your phone;
- you want the lower price.
UK prices for each test
These are our regular UK prices, checked on the product pages. Sale prices sometimes apply on top.
| Test | Items screened | Digital Test | Physical Test Kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Sensitivity Test | 600 | £24.95 | £34.95 |
| Ultimate Individual Test | 1,000 | £29.95 | £39.95 |
| Optimum Sensitivity Test | 1,600 | £39.95 | £49.95 |
The kit adds £10 to a single test, which covers the printed materials and tracked postage. If you're testing more than one person, the Ultimate and Optimum tests also come in 2-test and 4-test packs, each in digital or kit form.
Not sure which level you need? Our guide to comparing hair sensitivity tests walks through what the 600, 1,000 and 1,600 item panels cover. Many people start with the Ultimate Individual Test as a middle option, while the Optimum Sensitivity Test is our most comprehensive.
Choose the option, then check your basket
Whichever you pick, it's worth a quick check before you pay:
- Pick the option on the product page. The Digital Test and the Physical Test Kit are separate choices on each test.
- Check your basket. Make sure it says the option you meant. If it says Digital Test, nothing will be posted to you, and that's normal.
- Look out for the email. Digital instructions arrive by email, so check your spam or promotions folder if you can't see it.
A quick look at the basket before you pay means you know exactly what to expect.
What happens after you post your sample
From here, both options work exactly the same way. Once your sample arrives, results are emailed in 5 to 7 working days. The time your sample spends in the post is separate from that. You can see each stage in what happens after you send your hair sample.
Your results give you a list of potential sensitivities to explore. The most useful next step is to try a short, careful change, such as cutting out one flagged food for a few weeks, while you keep notes. Our free food and symptom diary template makes that easy.
Kit or digital: which do UK customers pick?
There's no wrong answer. If you're ordering for yourself and want to start today, digital is quicker and costs less. If you're buying for someone else, or you just like having it on paper, the kit is the easier experience. You can see every test, in both versions, in our sensitivity tests collection.
Sensitivity, intolerance or allergy?
Almost 11% of adults have a true food allergy, yet 19% believe they do. Many are actually dealing with a food intolerance or sensitivity (JAMA Network Open, 2019), which can sit behind everyday symptoms such as bloating, tiredness and headaches. If you ever have swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing after eating, call 999 straight away. To see what's available through your GP, read can your GP test for food intolerance?
Frequently asked questions
Is the posted kit a different test from the digital one? No. Both use the same hair sample and lead to the same results. Only the way you get the instructions and collection materials changes.
Can I get a posted kit outside the UK? No. Kits are only sent to UK addresses. Customers in Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand use digital instructions from their own country site.
Do I need a special envelope for the digital option? No. A standard envelope is fine. Follow the instructions you're sent for what to include and where to post it.
About our tests
Our tests are At-home Hair Sensitivity Tests. Our testing team uses bioresonance to look for potential sensitivity patterns in a hair sample. They are a wellness screening and a starting point for exploration. They are not a medical test, they don't measure allergy antibodies, and they are not a replacement for advice from your GP, a pharmacist or a registered dietitian. Talk to your GP before making big changes to your diet, especially for children, during pregnancy or if you have a medical condition. Every test comes with our 30-day money-back guarantee.
