When you’re ready to get some answers to your food intolerance test questions, you probably head online to see what options are out there for testing. You’ll be able to choose from either a food intolerance hair sample test or a food intolerance blood test. Perhaps the former option sounds a bit more comfortable than the latter option, but you’ll want to take the time to see just how the blood test works to see if it could, in fact, be the better option for the results that you’re seeking.

 

How does the food intolerance blood test work?

As you already figured out, it works by the use of a blood sample that is sent to our lab here at Test My Intolerance and tested against a wide selection of potential intolerances. As research into the blood test explains, the blood that you send in the mail kit is measured against different ingredients to test the degree of the IgG antibodies that bind to each sample [1].  The samples that have higher than average reading, so antibodies are considered to be intolerances.  While hundreds of food items are tested against, the ideals can be down into categories with the right testing technique [1]. For example, if you have intolerances to some but not all dairy products, the sensitivities will be broken down like butter, milk or cheese, etc.  This makes it easier, often, to adapt to changes.  

There often tends to be confusion in the difference between a food intolerance and a mild food allergy.  A food intolerance, according to scientific testing, is when a response/reaction to food is non-immunologically mediated [2]. This means that it doesn’t involve the immune system in creating a “fight or flight” response like an allergy would.  For this reason, if you eat something that you are intolerant to, it can be painful and very uncomfortable, but it will not cause damage, even if you eat it regularly.

Some scientists believe that both IgG4 and IgE levels can — and should — be tested for more accuracy within the test itself [1]. This correct, however, IgE levels are what determine allergies in testing, so sometimes the results can get confused.  In a standard clinic that tests for both, this is the way that things are done, and then further tests are taken.  For accuracy within the food intolerance blood test, specifically, IgG4 levels are thought to be the most accurate [2]. This is what we use to determine food intolerances in our labs.  

 

Why a food intolerance blood test is the right call for me

If you find that you’re still on the fence about getting a food intolerance blood test and you aren’t sure if you even need to get a test done, you aren’t alone.  Deciding to get a test done is a big deal and should be taken seriously.  However, there are plenty of benefits to getting a lab-based test done for intolerances.  Some of the highlights include:

  • Diagnosis can be broad without the right test:  Maybe you tried a clinic-based test, or perhaps you’re doing it with the use of a food log and a nutritionist.  Sure, these are great ways to figure out what’s going on in your body, but they won’t give you the same accuracy that a test will.  Science has shown that the right professional test can help to eliminate the problem food correctly the first time so that you don’t have to do guesswork or trial and error [3] just focused results that will lead you to freedom in your diet.
  • It’s fast and can be done from home: Another perk to a blood test is that it can be done right at home since it just focuses on a finger prick.  You don’t need to take time out of your busy schedule to go to a clinic or pay for expensive and complicated procedures.  This is cost-effective, convenient, and both the sample kit and the results get mailed and emailed, respectively, to you to keep the convenience coming.
  • It gives you advice and a guide to eliminating the food: With the diagnosis results, you’ll also get advice and a result-personalised guide for how to eliminate the intolerant foods from your diet.  It’ll give you tips, suggestions, reminders and more.  You’ll find that adapting to the intolerances that you have will be as efficient as possible and stress-free.  

You deserve to have accuracy and efficiency when it comes to something as specific as food intolerance testing.  Without question, you’ll find that the food intolerance blood test that we offer is going to be the best way to get both in one place.  If you’re ready to improve your food-related life, make the right call with a professional and detailed blood test to get to the bottom of your food intolerances once and for all.

References

[1] Lavine, E., 2012. Blood testing for sensitivity, allergy or intolerance to food. Cmaj, 184(6), pp.666-668. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3314037/

[2] Palmieri, B., Esposito, A., Capone, S., Fistetto, G. and Iannitti, T., 2011. Food intolerance: reliability and characteristics of different diagnostic alternative tests. Minerva gastroenterologica e dietologica, 57(1 Suppl 1), pp.1-10. Available at: https://www.minervamedica.it/en/journals/gastroenterologica-dietologica/issue.php?cod=R08Y2011N05

[3] Zopf, Y., Hahn, E.G., Raithel, M., Baenkler, H.W. and Silbermann, A., 2009. The differential diagnosis of food intolerance. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 106(21), p.359. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2695393/