Pros & Cons of Food Allergy / Sensitivity Testing Methods

Vega testing, EAV or Electro-Dermal testing uses acupuncture points on the body to measure electromagnetic fluctuations with a galvanometer. The electrical frequencies of different foods are tested as the patient holds a probe.  When the body reacts to a food, the brain stimulates a skin response of resistance which is then interpreted by the Vega machine.

PROS:  

• Immediate results
• Painless
• No blood draw required
• Although unsupported by research, our investigations have shown that there are experienced naturopathic doctors that use VEGA testing and like it.

CONS:

• Scientific validity questioned as no antibody blood measurement is used to quantify the reaction
• British Medical Journal (June 2006) double blind study concluded that electrodermal testing invalid as it could NOT diagnose allergies nor distinguish between allergic and non-allergic individuals.
• Repeated testing required
• Technician’s performance can produce false results
• Moderately expensive considering repeated testing may be required at the doctor’s discretion
• Unknown to many initial patients, the doctor may recommend testing every 2-3 months, increasing the overall yearly cost, making it the one of the most expensive tests on the market

ELISA Food Allergy Blood Testing is regarded as one of the most scientific, accurate and comprehensive forms of Food Allergy Blood Testing.  It is valued by most naturopathic doctors as the Gold Standard of Food Allergy Testing. The ELISA technique is a mainstream lab procedure used to diagnose Pregnancy, HIV, West Nile Virus, Tuberculosis (TB), E. coli, Hepatitis B. (Wikipedia 2015)

The test requires a blood sample, drawn from the patient’s arm vein.  The blood is spun in a centrifuge machine to separate the red blood cells from the yellow serum, which contains the immune factors. The serum is frozen and sent to the Allergy Testing Lab.

The Lab performs the Food Allergy Testing procedure robotically, using over 90 test tubes each containing a different food antigen (ie. cow’s milk, egg white, soybean). The patient’s blood is added to each test tube. The ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) technique is used to measure the antibody levels after the appropriate incubation period.

Two measurements quantify the allergic reaction, the IgE & IgG antibodies. The IgE antibody corresponds to an immediate allergic reaction, occurring minutes to hours after exposure to the food. The IgG antibody corresponds to a delayed allergic reaction, occurring hours to days after exposure to the food. The delayed IgG reaction may be mild or severe, and the cumulative effect may lead to chronic symptoms & degenerative conditions.

The IgE antibody causes type I hypersensitivity reactions via release of chemicals such as histamine. This manifests as swelling, redness and itchiness of the throat, lungs, face, lips, tongue, sinuses or skin. Other symptoms include wheezing, difficult breathing, nasal congestion, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or constipation. Clinically, the diagnoses include anaphylaxis, asthma, angioedema, rhinitis, sinusitis, urticaria (hives) and dermatitis (eczema).

The IgG antibody positively affects immunity by controlling infections through binding to bacteria, viruses and fungi. However, various hypersensitivity reactions involve IgG antibodies causing immune dysfunction, such as allergies and autoimmune diseases. This occurs via cell destruction and excessive inflammation.

BEWARE of Labs that CLAIM to test for BOTH IgG & IgE Antibodies, but in actuality have only IgG measurements and Combined Antibody Results.

• Combined IgG / IgE or Total IgE measurements are USELESS.
• Neither results SPECIFY which foods trigger the IgE levels.
• This is critical as IgE allergies are more rapid & dangerous reactions.

It is CRUCIAL to have BOTH antibodies, IgG & IgE, tested and have the measurements shown SEPARATELY. This provides the most comprehensive diagnosis of which food allergies or food sensitivities are problematic.

It is most critical to ensure that the Food Allergy Blood Testing Lab used is:

• Certified & accredited under CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)
• Regularly inspected by COLA (Commission of Laboratory Accreditation)
• Participates in quarterly proficiency testing by the College of American Pathologists
• Performs duplicate tests for every food analyzed for ultimate precision
• Uses fully automated robotics for minimizing human error

PROS:  

• More scientifically supported than VEGA testing
• Often covered under Extended Health Plans
• Comprehensive results when 2 antibodies are separately reported for each food
• More cost effective than repeated VEGA testing
• Can be done for ages as young as 6 months old

CONS:

• Initial cost can be high
• Results require special interpretation when patient is taking certain prescription drugs

ELISA Food Allergy Blood Testing is regarded as one of the most scientific, accurate and comprehensive forms of Food Allergy Blood Testing.  It is valued by most naturopathic doctors as the Gold Standard of Food Allergy Testing. The ELISA technique is a mainstream lab procedure used to diagnose Pregnancy, HIV, West Nile Virus, Tuberculosis (TB), E. coli, Hepatitis B. (Wikipedia 2015)

The test requires a blood sample, drawn from the patient’s arm vein.  The blood is spun in a centrifuge machine to separate the red blood cells from the yellow serum, which contains the immune factors. The serum is frozen and sent to the Allergy Testing Lab.

The Lab performs the Food Allergy Testing procedure robotically, using over 90 test tubes each containing a different food antigen (ie. cow’s milk, egg white, soybean). The patient’s blood is added to each test tube. The ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) technique is used to measure the antibody levels after the appropriate incubation period.

One type of antibody is measured, the IgG antibody, which corresponds to a delayed allergic reaction, occurring hours to days after exposure to the food. The delayed IgG reaction may be mild or severe, and the cumulative effect may lead to chronic symptoms & degenerative conditions.

The IgG antibody positively affects immunity by controlling infections through binding to bacteria, viruses and fungi. However, various hypersensitivity reactions involve IgG antibodies causing immune dysfunction, such as allergies and autoimmune diseases. This occurs via cell destruction and excessive inflammation.

BEWARE of Labs that CLAIM to test for BOTH IgG & IgE Antibodies, but in actuality have only IgG measurements and Combined Antibody Results.

• Combined IgG / IgE or Total IgE measurements are USELESS.
• Neither results specify WHICH foods trigger the IgE levels.
• This is critical as IgE allergies are more rapid & dangerous reactions.

It is CRUCIAL to have BOTH antibodies, IgG & IgE, tested and have the measurements shown SEPARATELY. This provides the most comprehensive diagnosis of which food allergies or food sensitivities are problematic.

It is most critical to ensure that the Food Allergy Blood Testing Lab used is:

• Certified & accredited under CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)
• Regularly inspected by COLA (Commission of Laboratory Accreditation)
• Participates in quarterly proficiency testing by the College of American Pathologists
• Performs duplicate tests for every food analyzed for ultimate precision
• Uses fully automated robotics for minimizing human error

PROS:  

• More scientifically supported than VEGA testing
• More cost effective than repeated VEGA testing
• Can be done for ages as young as 6 months old

CONS:

• NOT diagnostic for food allergies (IgE)
• Does NOT test for fast-acting, dangerous IgE food allergies
• Not as accurate when 2 antibodies (IgG & IgE) are reported as one value to save money
• Initial Cost can be high
• Results require special interpretation with use of certain prescription drugs

Finger Prick Food Sensitivity Testing is regarded as the one of the most scientific, accurate forms of allergy testing, although testing for only one antibody (IgG) is not as comprehensive as testing and reports identifying two antibodies (IgG & IgE), with each reported separately.

The Finger Prick Food Sensitivity Testing IgG is done with a lancet, pricking the patient’s finger to access a few droplets of blood. The drops of blood are placed on a blood spot collection card, which is air-dried and sent to the laboratory for assessment.

NOTE: Finger Prick Blood Spot Does NOT Provide Enough Blood for DUPLICATE Testing, therefore has limited accuracy and no verified reproducibility.

The Lab performs the Food Allergy Testing procedure, using over 90 test tubes each containing a different food antigen (i.e. cow’s milk, egg white, soybean).  The patient’s blood is added to each test tube and with the ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) technique, the antibody levels are measured after the appropriate incubation period.

One type of antibody is measured, the IgG antibody, which corresponds to a delayed allergic reaction, occurring hours to days after exposure to the food. The delayed IgG reaction may be mild or severe, and the cumulative effect may lead to chronic symptoms & degenerative conditions.

The IgG antibody positively affects immunity by controlling infections through binding to bacteria, viruses and fungi. However, various hypersensitivity reactions involve IgG antibodies causing immune dysfunction, such as allergies and autoimmune diseases. This occurs via cell destruction and excessive inflammation.

BEWARE of Labs that CLAIM to test for BOTH IgG & IgE Antibodies, but in actuality have only IgG measurements and Combined Antibody Results.

• Combined IgG / IgE or Total IgE measurements are USELESS.
• Neither results specify WHICH foods trigger the IgE levels.
• This is critical as IgE allergies are more rapid & dangerous reactions.

It is CRUCIAL to have BOTH antibodies, IgG & IgE, tested and have the measurements shown SEPARATELY. This provides the most comprehensive diagnosis of which food allergies or food sensitivities are problematic.

It is most critical to ensure that the Food Allergy Blood Testing Lab used is:

• Certified & accredited under CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)
• Regularly inspected by COLA (Commission of Laboratory Accreditation)
• Participates in quarterly proficiency testing by the College of American Pathologists
• Performs duplicate tests for every food analyzed for ultimate precision
• Uses fully automated robotics for minimizing human error

PROS:  

• More scientifically supported than VEGA testing
• Often covered under Extended Health Plans
• More cost effective than repeated VEGA testing
• Can be done for ages as young as 6 months old

CONS:

• NOT diagnostic for food allergies (IgE)
• Does NOT test for fast-acting, dangerous IgE food allergies
• Not as accurate when 2 antibodies (IgG & IgE) are reported as one value to save money
• Only 1 antibody reported so not as comprehensive as IgG & IgE separately reported results
• Initial Cost can be high
• Results require special interpretation with use of certain prescription drugs

Diet restriction in migraine, based on IgG against foods: a clinical double-blind, randomised, cross-over trial.

Food allergy mediated by IgG antibodies associated with migraine in adults.

Randomised controlled trial of food elimination diet based on IgG antibodies for the prevention of migraine like headaches.

Food elimination based on IgG antibodies in irritable bowel syndrome: a randomised controlled trial.

Treating irritable bowel syndrome with a food elimination diet followed by food challenge and probiotics.

Clinical relevance of IgG antibodies against food antigens in Crohn’s disease: a double-blind cross-over diet intervention study.

IgG antibodies against food antigens are correlated with inflammation and intima media thickness in obese juveniles.