The Standard Food Allergy Profile test takes the guesswork out of treating your IBS and saves you a great deal of time, effort, and discomfort. And if by chance your test happens to be negative, you can quickly move on to other potential causes of your problem without spending valuable time on an unsuccessful elimination diet and then wondering if you actually did it correctly.
Food allergy testing is a highly specialized procedure performed only by doctors trained in recognizing and treating non-anaphylactic food allergies, and only in laboratories especially equipped to handle the sophisticated testing required. In order to give you an accurate result, this test must be a blood test, and must include, IgE and IgG antibodies at minimum, and probably IgA antibodies in most cases. If it does not evaluate these antibodies, there is a strong possibility that the testing will miss your food allergy. (More information about food allergies and IgE, IgG and IgA antibodies.)
For you the procedure is neither complex nor difficult. The standard food allergen blood test measures reactions to nearly 100 common foods, including dairy, eggs, corn, soy, almonds, peanuts, wheat, seafood, and many others. You are not required to fast or to change your diet in any way prior to blood collection. In fact, it is recommended that you not do so. (However, steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as prednisone and corticosteroids may affect the results, so talk to your medical practitioner about these medications prior to testing.)
If you have no food allergies, no antibodies will be detected. However, when IBS sufferers are tested, a very high percentage of them have antibodies to one or more foods. When they stop eating those foods they invariably feel better. The findings are summarized for you in an easy-to-understand report that you will be given to take with you. Your doctor will thoroughly review the report with you and answer any questions that you may have. Your doctor will also review and provide you with a packet of additional information to help you understand your condition and the steps required for you to cure your IBS.
In addition to the Standard Food Allergy Profile, a blood test for celiac disease should also be run. Celiac disease is a special form of gluten/wheat intolerance. (Click here for more information about Celiac Disease and Other Forms of Gluten Intolerance.) Although gluten and wheat are included in the Standard Profile, celiac disease cannot be ruled out based on that test alone. This highly specialized diagnosis can be ruled out only after you have been tested for tissue transglutaminase antibodies and total IgA.
The IBS Treatment Center provides you with the highest quality testing available, comprehensive and detailed counseling to help you evaluate and understand your test results, and extensive recommendations for treatment.
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Dr. Wangen is the founder and medical director of the IBS Treatment Center, the award winning author of two books, and a nationally recognized speaker on digestive disorders. He has been on ABC, NBC, and Fox as well as public radio, and was named one of Seattle’s Top Doctors by Seattle Magazine.