Food Allergy Test:
Know Your Intolerances

After an initial consultation with your doctor, many times a food allergy test is the next step before a diagnosis. Several common testing procedures which they may use are outlined below:

Physical Exam/Food DiaryThe physical exam is a starting process where your doctor will ask specific questions in an attempt to rule out other possible conditions which do mimic common allergy symptoms. Many questions will be asked and all of this information is then used to narrow down the possibilities.

To save time during your appointment, keep a log of all pertinent details. No detail is too small. Write down anything you feel is not normal. Some suggestions of information he will be looking for is:

• Type of symptoms you are having/length of time they last/ when did you first notice these symptoms starting

• If the symptoms seem to be repetitive, time of day you usually notice a flare-up

• What was your location- indoors, outdoors, basement, in a smokey room, in the basement, at the table during a meal etc.

• Treatments you have tried yourself- over the counter pills, vitamins, cremes, chicken soup, whatever you have tried- be sure to mark this information down, with details as to how often, when, etc.

All of this information will be assembled and used as a basis for the next step in your allergy plan or diagnosis.

The Elimination Diet

The elimination diet is based on the removal of the possible offending foods from your diet for several weeks. This is to verify there is a reversal of symptoms. With a lack of noticeable symptoms, the doctor can then start narrowing down the possibilities what your trigger foods may be. After several weeks, slowly then, one food at a time will be added back to your diet to see if the symptoms do re-occur. By using this process it is possible to pinpoint where your allergic reactions are originating from.

Controlled Food Challenge

During this procedure, the patient is given either food or capsules which may contain your suspected allergy trigger. Generally, neither the doctor nor the patient will know if during this session any particulants was in the food you ingested. On successive visits the same procedure will be followed and monitored to see if symptoms do develop.

The major drawback to this procedure is if you do have a history of a severe allergy, medically it can be unsafe to try to induce an allergic reaction.

Skin Test

Another method of using this test is called a patch test. A small patch with the allergen enclosed is placed on your skin for 48 hours before it is checked for possible reactions. The problem with this test is you as the patient are unable to wash, bathe or shower for the entire 48 hours, because water or excess sweating can de-sensitize the patch sample.

Blood Test

The blood test is done to check for the presence of IgE antibodies in your system. These antibodies are just indicators that an allergy may be present. The most common of these tests is the RAST (radioallergosorbent test) which is effective in showing if high levels of IgE are present in the system. With a conclusive result, it is determined allergic reactors are present in your body.

Relatively new to the testing field is a blood test which checks for the IgG antibody and its presence in your system. This test is known as the ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test. It's purpose is to check for the IgG antibody but in some cases results have also been received measuring the IgE levels also. The Elisa test does have the capabilities of coming back with the allergens which are present in your system and can also tell you which foods you need to avoid. General thinking though, the reliability of this test is of major concern. Many doctors and researchers will say although the idea of this is a much better alternative than anything else now available, they are not convinced its results can be actually followed for safety reasons.

Therefore, which food allergy test or tests your doctor chooses to use is solely at his discretion. Each of these tests do have different factors which will give your doctor a better understanding of what your final diagnosis will be.

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