Wheat, not gluten? And others...

[Naominjw]

So I finally got back the test results from Food-Safe Allergy testing which I ordered through Life Extension (www.lef.org).

Not surprisingly Dairy/casein was listed, as was wheat, but NOT barley which means... not gluten!??!

The BIGGEST responses I had were to some foods that I usually avoid because I just have never ever liked them... which growing up in a country where they were a staple food was not pleasant - BEANS! Pinto beans and kidney beans (also soybeans but that wasn't around growing up and I don't avoid them now).

Some on the list were absolutely NO SURPRISE - canteloupe & pineapple because although I LOVE them, I already knew they don't love me. Pineapple makes my tongue & mouth swell if I eat enough of it... canteloupe gives me hives and makes my throat sore (honeydew also).

Then there was sunflower seeds and eggs....

And sadly... just barely making it onto the "avoid" list were walnuts. I eat walnuts in my oatmeal every morning.

All in all, I didn't think the avoid list was too long. I reacted to no meats, and to no fish or shellfish. I was OK with all the grains other than the wheat. I already gave that and the dairy up, and suspected I would have to give up eggs.

The soy is another problem... It is in much of the food supplements I take, and I already bought them... and they are expensive! I honestly cannot afford to replace them. :-(

My husband said, Oh that's too bad you have to give up eggs... and I said I am not looking at it that way. I am looking forward to feeling better.

"Naomi"

[MCKMNL]

can you tell me a little about this place you used for testing, i have looked over the site. Do you like this palce for testing of things like this?

[Naominjw]

I love the Life Extension Foundation (www.lef.org) through which I ordered the test. They in turn used http://www.foodsafe-allergytest.com/ . It took over a month to get my results back.

I was leary of using a blood test because I was warned about the possibility of false positives. But the results which I got back, at least for the foods in the "avoid" category, seemed reasonable to me. It caught 3 foods which I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have problems with, and two others I suspected. Then, there were those additional few....

The worst part of the test was the same as for getting the RAST skin scratch test (which tests a different type of allergy) -- and that was getting off all antihistamines and anti-inflammatories before the test. Because of the severity of my allergies, I suffered and was nearly looking at death right before I took the blood and quickly took my meds! Close to having to call 911....

The test used merely the finger prick test so was done at home.

Other tests you go to a lab to get the blood draw.

All in all, I am satisfied with this, but only time will tell me how accurate it was. I have nothing to lose - I AM getting off all foods on the "avoid" list they gave me. I am at a point where I have to do something.

For my kids, I had used www.Enterolab.com with DNA testing added in. It is hugely expensive, and does not test for as many things. It is reputed to be EXCELLENT though, for what it does test for - including gluten, casein, eggs and soy.

For me, for now, I am satisfied with this cheaper test.

-"Naomi"

[jcc]

I don't think I even realized you could order food sensitivity testing through LEF. Here are some other labs I've heard of. I've had two DAN! doctors recommend two different places, SAGE labs and BioTek. I've never followed through on testing for my daughter (other than Enterolab for casein, eggs, yeast.... and standard blood IgE testing). I've always wanted to, just haven't done it.


ALCAT Worldwide (http://www.alcat.com/)

Enterolab (https://www.enterolab.com/Home.htm)

Genova Diagnostics (GSDL) (http://www.gdx.net/home/assessments/allergy/)

The Great Plains Laboratory (http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/home.htm)

Immuno Laboratories (http://www.immunolabs.com/)

Meridian Valley Laboratory (http://www.meridianvalleylab.com/allergy_dept.html)

Metametrix (http://www.metametrix.com/content/DirectoryOfServices/0075IgG4FoodAntibodies90-Serum)

Optimum Health Resource
Laboratories (http://www.optimumhealthresource.com/)

Sage Medical Laboratory (http://www.foodallergytest.com/)

US BioTek (http://www.usbiotek.com/)

I have accumulated some more info on IgG allergy testing in The Gluten File. There are studies to back up its usefulness, although many mainstream allergists may still dispute.
http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/foodallergy

[Zonulin]

That is odd about the barley - maybe you have not yet developed antibodies for barley's protein, hordein. :confused:

Karen

[Naominjw]

The test said it was IgG4 .... 4 ? What is "ELIZA"? I know RAST is IgE, right?

What about ALCAT?

There are so many, my head spins. My daughter (the one with Celiac) wants more testing. She thinks either she is reacting to something else or sometimes she gets some poor quality soy lecithin (sensitive to soy).

Naomi

[Naominjw]

That is odd about the barley - maybe you have not yet developed antibodies for barley's protein, hordein. :confused:

Karen

I am thinking perhaps the test did check for the reaction to unique protiens - NOT "gluten."

So, is the only gluten test from Enterolab? That's what we did with my younger daughter who had already been diagnosed with intestinal malabsorption and osteoporosis.

-"Naomi"

[Zonulin]

The ELISA is the acronym for "enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay"
http://www.medicinenet.com/elisa_tests/article.htm I'm not sure about ALCAT - anyone? Here's some info: http://www.evolutionri.com/nutrition_alcat.html But they both check for IgG responses to foods/allergens (IgG = a non-immediate, non-anaphylactic response which is difficult to determine using the RAST or skin prick test, which checks an IgE response).

I don't know if the only gluten test is done by Enterolab - it's possible! My son had the ELISA test done, and I remember they tested the wheat, rye and barley separately. He showed a reaction to all 3 - plus 22 other foods. I think an IgG 4 indicates the "increasing levels of antibodies" - with an IgG 1 being lowest, and 4 being highest. We used Immuno Laboratories - www.immunolabs.com - and the test ("IgG Standard Food Sensitivity Assay") was ordered by his doctor and paid for by our insurance company (we were lucky...Ted was very sick). His blood serum did NOT react to 90 other foods, so they tested for a total of 115 foods.

This is all a major pain to figure out, isn't it? The crash course in Chemistry that you never wanted to take - certainly not under these circumstances (illness in the family - clueless doctors). Hopefully others will post here too and provide more input than I can!

Karen