Laboratory

FOOD INTOLERANCE TEST
Overview of the test

The Food Intolerance Test is a diagnostic tool designed to help identify food sensitivities and intolerances. It employs cutting-edge Protein Microarray technology to detect food-specific IgG antibodies in the blood. This technology is a high-throughput platform that allows for the simultaneous screening of a large number of food antigens in a single sample including fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, nuts, and meats.

This test provides a detailed profile of the body’s immune response to different foods, allowing for a better understanding of potential food intolerances. Elevated levels of these antibodies suggest potential sensitivities to the tested foods, which may lead to symptoms like bloating, fatigue, headaches, digestive issues, and more.

Mechanism of the Test:

IgG Antibodies: When the body is exposed to a particular food, the immune system can produce IgG antibodies in response. These antibodies are part of the body’s adaptive immune system and are typically involved in more chronic responses rather than the immediate, severe reactions seen with IgE-mediated allergies.
Protein Microarray Technology: The test uses a microarray, a high-throughput, multiplex technology that can analyze multiple food antigens (proteins) simultaneously. This allows for the detection of IgG antibodies that bind to specific foods.
Test Procedure:

Sample Collection: The test requires a blood sample, usually obtained via venipuncture.
Laboratory Processing: The sample is then processed in a laboratory, where it is exposed to various food antigens.
Analysis: The lab measures the presence and concentration of IgG antibodies in response to different foods.
Report Generation: Results are typically presented as a detailed report that lists foods to which the patient may be intolerant, categorized by the level of IgG antibody response (usually divided into low, moderate, or high levels).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Food Intolerance Test

How does the Food Intolerance IgG test work?
What foods are tested in the Food Intolerance Test?
Dairy: Milk, cheese, yogurt, butter etc.
Meat & Protein: Beef, chicken, pork, lamb, fish, eggs, etc.
Grains & Cereals: Wheat, corn, oats, barley, rice, etc.
Fruits & Vegetables: Apples, oranges, bananas, tomatoes, carrots, etc.
Legumes & Nuts: Peanuts, soy, almonds, lentils, etc.
Seeds: Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, etc.
Spices and Herbs: Garlic, onions, chili peppers, basil, thyme, etc.
Other Foods and Additives: Chocolate, coffee, tea, sugar, processed foods.
Plus many more including processed foods.
What does IgG stand for, and why is it important?
What makes the Food Intolerance Test unique compared to other food sensitivity tests?
What are Cross-Reactive Carbohydrate Determinants (CCDs)?
Why CCDs Matter?
What is the Unique Selling Proposition (USP) of the Food Intolerance test
How is the sample collected?
How do I interpret the results?
Is the Food Intolerance test the same as an allergy test?
Will I get false positives or false negatives?
Can I use the Food Intolerance test as the sole basis for eliminating foods from my diet?
The test works by detecting IgG antibodies that your immune system produces in response to specific food proteins (antigens). A blood sample is collected from you, and the antibodies are measured for over 250 food items. The results are provided in a detailed report, categorizing each food as low, moderate, or high in immune response.

The test covers a broad range of food categories, including:

These foods are tested for their IgG antibody response, which can help detect sensitivities that may be linked to chronic health issues.

IgG stands for Immunoglobulin G, a type of antibody produced by the immune system in response to the presence of foreign substances like food proteins. Elevated IgG levels to specific foods can indicate that your body is sensitive or intolerant to those foods, which may contribute to chronic symptoms.

The Food Intolerance Test offers several unique features:

Comprehensive Testing: It analyzes over 250 food antigens across a wide variety of food categories, providing a detailed profile of your immune responses.
High-Throughput Technology: The test uses protein microarray technology, allowing for fast, accurate, and simultaneous testing of multiple food antigens.
Cross-Reactive Carbohydrate Determinants (CCDs): One of the unique aspects of the Food Intolerance test is its ability to account for Cross-Reactive Carbohydrate Determinants (CCDs). These are carbohydrate structures that are found in many plant-based foods (especially fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes). CCDs can cause false positives in IgG testing because they may trigger an immune response similar to that of a food allergen but are not necessarily linked to a true food intolerance.

CCDs are carbohydrate structures found in many plant-based foods (like fruits, vegetables, and legumes) that can cause the immune system to react as though they are food proteins. The Food Intolerance test accounts for these cross-reactions, reducing the chance of false positives and ensuring more accurate results for your food sensitivities.

Cross-Reactivity: When the immune system responds to these carbohydrate structures, it can mistakenly identify them as being part of a food protein. This can lead to a misleading result, suggesting a sensitivity to a food when the issue may be related to the carbohydrate structure instead.
Compensating for False Positives: The Food Intolerance test takes CCDs into account by providing a specific panel or feature that identifies and compensates for these cross-reactions. This helps improve the accuracy of the results by ensuring that the identified food sensitivities are based on true immune responses rather than false positives caused by CCDs.
By accounting for CCDs, the Food Intolerance ensures more precise results, reducing the chance that the test will erroneously suggest a food intolerance that doesn’t actually exist.

The Food Intolerance Test stands out due to several key features that make it a highly advanced diagnostic tool:

Comprehensive Testing: The test can analyze a wide array of food antigens in a single test, offering a broad view of potential sensitivities.
High-Throughput and Accuracy: Using protein microarray technology, the test can screen a large number of foods simultaneously, making it efficient and capable of delivering high-quality results.
Personalized and Holistic Approach: The ability to identify food sensitivities at various intensity levels (low, moderate, high) allows for a personalized dietary approach. This level of granularity helps patients tailor their diets to manage chronic symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Non-Invasive and Easy to Use: The test requires only a blood sample, making it relatively simple and easy to perform.
Scientific Foundation: The test is based on the detection of IgG antibodies, which are recognized in immunology as being associated with food sensitivities. The IgG antibody test is scientifically validated, providing a trusted method for understanding food-related immune responses.

Unlike traditional diagnostic methods, the Food Intolerance requires only a blood sample, typically a simple venipuncture, which is non-invasive compared to more invasive allergy tests. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Your results will be categorized into three levels:

Low: Mild response. No need to avoid unless symptoms suggest otherwise.
Moderate: Moderate response. Consider limiting or avoiding these foods.
High: Strong response. Avoidance of these foods is likely beneficial to reduce symptoms.
No, this test measures IgG antibodies, which are linked to food sensitivities and intolerances, not the severe, immediate reactions associated with food allergies (which are typically IgE-mediated). While food allergies can cause anaphylactic reactions, food sensitivities often manifest as delayed symptoms like bloating, fatigue, and headaches.

While the test is highly accurate, no diagnostic test is perfect. Food Intolerance accounts for Cross-Reactive Carbohydrate Determinants (CCDs) to minimize false positives, but it’s important to correlate your results with your symptoms. Discuss your results with a healthcare professional to make the best dietary choices.

We recommend consulting with a healthcare provider or nutritionist to interpret your results and develop a personalized plan. Eliminating foods should be done carefully, and a professional can help ensure you maintain a balanced, nutritious diet.

Conclusion

The Food Intolerance Test leverages state-of-the-art protein microarray technology and offers a comprehensive solution for identifying food sensitivities. With its ability to test for a large number of food antigens across multiple food categories, it provides patients with valuable insights into how their immune system is reacting to specific foods. The test’s consideration of Cross-Reactive Carbohydrate Determinants (CCDs) further enhances its reliability by addressing potential false positives.

This advanced diagnostic tool is particularly beneficial for those seeking to improve their health through personalized dietary adjustments, helping them better manage symptoms like bloating, fatigue, and digestive discomfort that could be linked to food sensitivities.