Allergy testing?

skyrocket

I found out recently i can't tolerate wheat and wanted to go for allergy testing.
I looked online but the York test was £250!!!:eek: :eek: :eek:
Is there a less expensive reliable service or test I could use?

TomsMom

I looked at this a few months ago as hubby has ulcerative colitis and certain foods were making it worse.

I saw the one called Vega testing which is described as

An Alternative, electrical method of testing for food and chemical sensitivity. Theoretical and experimental work on subtle electromagnetic change around the body has shown that the body is very sensitive to radiation in the millimeter/centimeter waveband of the electromagnetic spectrum. Bringing a substance to which there is a sensitivity, within a centimeter of the body, can facilitate a small but measurable change in the body's energy field. Vegatesting equipment is used to measure changes in the body's energy field, which are the result of a sensitivity to the substance being tested.

It is carried out by the patient holding a metal "rod" in one hand and the therapist stroking a finger of the other hand with a "light pen" attached to the testing machine. Not sure of the cost but certainly cheaper than York's £250. If you Google Vega Testing you can read opinions about it, personally I was sceptical.

Similar to York but rather than a finger !!!!! blood test ALCAT testing requires phials of blood drawn by a phlebotomist and tests at cellular level. Look here http://www.alcat.info/ Similar price at around £199 for the 100 food test (just click on "test panels" for tests and prices). Because of the amount of blood involved and the fact that it was tested at cellular level made hubby think this might be better than the York test.

The other way which wont cost anything except time is the elimination diet. I found this site helpful http://www.drmyhill.co.uk/articles.cfm?subject=Nutrition%2C%20Vitamins%2C%20Minerals%20and%20Diets

Hope that helps.

livinginhope

My DS had the Vega test done when small,it cost £30,I was very unsure about it's accuracy and took it with a pinch of salt,BUT it was actually spot on! he had a severe milk allergy,I didn't tell the tester anything about him,she immediately said he is very allergic to milk,then went on to telling me what he was sensitive to including tomatoes and oranges.He was admitted to hospital with the allergy a couple of weeks after the test and they said he was sensitive to tomatoes and oranges,so it was very accurate.
LIH

Sterling_geezer

Allergy tests are a bit naff to be honest. You get a lot of false positives and false negatives - that is sometimes it says you are allergic and you are not and sometimes it says you aren't when you are allergic.
Easiest (and cheapest!) option is to simply avoid foods that you feel upset you.
I am assuming the wheat allergy was confirmed by your GP?

mummytomoo&roo

I had the vega test years ago and the results were very vague so personally wouldn't recommend it.

I also have an intolerance to wheat. (There is a huge difference between having an intolerance to something or being allergic to it, so make sure you find out for certain which one you are!)

The only help the GP gave was to be referred to a dietician who put me on the dreaded elimination diet, I had to eat rice for a couple of weeks and gradually introduce other foods to see if I reacted.

It took months, I felt miserable and in the end gave up, eating rice every day for breakfast, dinner and tea is not for the faint-hearted and takes lots of willpower and determination so a much simpler route would be the york test, despite the cost!

Best of luck xx

shopndrop

I had the Vega test done in my local health shop. Had it done quite a few years ago and it was spot on. Had it done again recently and obviously my allergens/intolerances have altered. Have changed my diet to exclude things that I don't really need anyway and my eczema has improved quite a lot. Think I paid about £40 last time.