Frequently
Asked
Questions
About Curex
What is Curex?
Curex is the place to go for all your allergy questions and needs. Led by healthcare entrepreneurs and allergists, Curex is an integrated, online telemedicine clinic for people who suffer from food, indoor and outdoor allergies. We provide at-home allergy testing, online consultations, and sublingual immunotherapy. Our goal is to improve the accessibility and quality of allergy care in the US. You can learn more about our team here.
Who is Curex for?
Curex treats people who suffer from all types of allergies -- as well as people who don’t know if they have allergies and are trying to figure that out. We see adults and children over the age of 8. * Our immunotherapy treatment is available everywhere except Hawaii and Kansas. Our at-home allergy test is available everywhere except New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
Are Curex’s services (test, drops, consultation) covered by insurance? Do you accept HSA/FSA?
These services are currently out-of-pocket, but we have priced the drops so that they are lower than most insurance copays. For our test and for our consultations, we can also provide a receipt for you to try to get reimbursement.
We also accept HSA/FSA payments for all our services.
About the At-Home Allergy Test
What allergens does the Curex at-home allergy test detect?
* Our indoor/outdoor allergen IgE test measures 40 of the most common indoor/outdoor allergens, including cat/dog, dust, mold and pollens. For an additional price, you can also be tested for 28 food IgE sensitivities, although we only recommend this for people with potential food allergy symptoms. You can check out the complete list of allergens we test for above.
What is IgE testing?
The IgE (immunoglobulin E) test measures your immune system's underlying reactivity to certain allergens. It is a widely-accepted allergy diagnostics method used by clinicians in the U.S. and Europe. No allergy test, however, is a 100% diagnosis of your allergies. Diagnosis of allergy is done by our doctors during a consultation, after reviewing your test results and your medical questionnaire.
Is the test CLIA-certified?
Yes, the test is CLIA certified and has gone through validation studies with specificity and sensitivity values above 90% compared to ImmunoCAP results (the leading in-person blood test).
How does the Curex allergy test work?
The test is taken in the comfort of your own home. We ship you a kit with all the items you need to collect a small blood sample via finger prick. You then send the sample to our lab using a prepaid shipping envelope we provide. You can check out video instructions for our collection process here.
Do I need to stop eating certain foods or stop taking medications before taking the test?
No, unlike skin scratch tests, allergy blood testing allows you to continue your regular diet, as well as any medications you may be taking.
Is this test safe for people who can’t take antihistamines? Is it safe for people who have a history of anaphylaxis and/or eczema?
Yes, it is totally safe. The IgE test is recommended for those who can’t take antihistamines or have a history of anaphylaxis and/or eczema.
How long does it take to receive my results? How can I access them?
After the lab receives your sample, it typically takes 5 business days to receive your results. You will receive an email confirmation when your results are ready and you can access them in your Curex profile. This email will also prompt you to schedule a lab results review consultation with one of our doctors.
What is the screening call for allergy immunotherapy drops?
For eligible patients, Curex offers allergy immunotherapy services, which are custom drops you take daily at home to treat your allergies by retraining your immune system. We use FDA-approved extracts in a clinically proven practice that, when done diligently with proper medical care, can significantly reduce your allergy symptoms. One benefit of taking the Curex test is we can immediately start screening you for eligibility for drops, and designing the right compound for you.
What is the refund policy?
You are entitled to a full refund before we ship the kit. Once the kit has shipped, you will receive your refund minus $25 for the non-refundable kit and shipping. Three months after ordering your kit, all kits expire and are non-refundable.
About Allergy Drops
What is sublingual therapy?
Sublingual Immunotherapy (aka allergy drops) is an effective way to reduce, and even eliminate, the underlying cause of indoor/outdoor allergies. The therapy is available in FDA-approved tablet form or off-label liquid/drop form. The liquid formulation includes specific allergens that help reduce allergy symptoms and the need for allergy medications (i.e. antihistamines) over time. Each compound is customized to the individual patient based on their medical profile, test results, and lifestyle needs. You take sublingual immunotherapy by putting a daily drop of the compound under your tongue, which you do from the comfort of your home.
Are drops just as effective as shots?
Allergy drops are as safe and effective as shots. The benefit of drops is that you can take them at home, and they can potentially save you hundreds of dollars in co-pays.
A wide body of U.S. and European research helps demonstrate that allergy drops are safer and comparable in efficacy to shots. The major benefit of drops is that you can take them at home, avoid injections, and potentially save hundreds of dollars in co-pays
When will I start to see improvement? How long do I stay on the treatment?
Meaningful reduction in symptoms (>40%) typically occurs within the first 6 months. Our doctors will monitor your symptoms and adjust treatment as necessary.
Doctors recommend that you take the drop for 3 years if you are hoping to get long-term relief from your allergies.
How safe are drops? What are the side effects?
Sublingual is the safest form of allergy immunotherapy. Side effects are typically very mild. We monitor the first dose to make sure you know how to administer the drops and so you don’t have an adverse reaction.
Our doctors will assist you at the different stages of your allergy care journey. They will help you start drops and will monitor your treatment to see if drop compounds and/or dosages need to be adjusted.
What are the drops made of? Are the ingredients FDA approved?
Curex immunotherapy drops are made using the same ingredients that are FDA-approved for allergy shots. Each treatment is customized to the patient's specific allergies and medical history. Inactive ingredients include glycerin and water. Sublingual immunotherapy is a clinically accepted, off-label use of these pharmaceutical products.
Who is a good candidate for drops? What is the minimum age for drops treatment?
Someone who suffers from regular indoor/outdoor allergies is a good candidate for drops. If you have uncontrolled asthma, we will have to get that under control before prescribing you drops. People at high risk of anaphylaxis are not good candidates.
We can treat patients over the age of 8 for drops.
Can food allergies be treated with drops?
We do not treat food allergies with drops, but our doctors can work with you to develop an action plan based on your test results and previous medical history.
How much do drops cost?
Most drops plans cost $95 / month if billed quarterly, but $75 if billed annually and $65 if billed for the full 3 years upfront. You can always cancel and have the prorated portion of your immunotherapy treated refunded.
If drops are such a great alternative to shots, why haven’t I heard of them?
Allergy drops are the standard form of immunotherapy in Europe (in France nearly 90% of immunotherapy patients are on drops, not shots). In the U.S., this convenient form of treatment has not gained as much traction, although it has become more popular this year. Curex is the first company to introduce this treatment to the US market on a national scale and in an accessible way.
I'm interested. How do I begin? Do I need an allergy test first?
To begin, sign up here and fill out our medical questionnaire. In order to determine drops eligibility, our clinical team needs to review allergy test results. If you have blood test or skin scratch test results from the last 5 years, you can submit those to bypass additional testing. At the end of sign up, you will receive instructions on how to submit pre-existing results or how to get tested, if needed. Testing is followed by a screening appointment to review allergy test results. This screening is a time to determine eligibility and answer any questions you may have about drops.
What are the cancellation and refund policies?
You can cancel your subscription any time, even if you've signed up for the Annual or 3-Year Plans. All you have to do is message our team and notify us about needing to pause or cancel the subscription, and you will receive a refund for any drops shipments that have not yet been prepared.
You are eligible for a refund unless the prescription has already been prepared. We will notify you before any drops compound is prepared, typically about 2 weeks before it is due (to allow time for pharmacy compounding and shipment).