ALCAT test

[toomey2]

Has anyone heard of the ALCAT test? It tests people's reaction to food and the severity of a reaction you have to certain foods. Its basically suppose to tell you which foods give you a flare up. They take a sample of your blood and test like 200 different kinds of foods. Based on the reaction your body has to the food, they make up a chart on whether you had a severe, moderate, mild, or no reaction at all to the food. Then with this chart you go on a diet limiting the foods your body has a reaction to.

I took the test a couple of months ago. My insurance said they would pay for it so I figured that since I'm going to be dealing with Crohns for the rest of my life, I might as well do anything I can to stay in remission. My test results came out really random. For example, I can't have strawberries or rasberries, but blueberries are ok. It said I should go gluten free and avoid most meats. The food I can eat according to the test is pretty limiting so I have been slowly implementing it since I took the test.

Has anyone else taken this test and had positive results? I've been in remission for a while now so I'm not sure if the diet is actually doing something for me or if the whole thing is a bunch of BS and I'm doing all this work for nothing. Thanks!

 

[Gstar]

This past January (2012), I also had a food allergy test completed. My blood specimens were sent off to Rocky Mountain Analytical (credible lab - from what I searched on the net, utilized by many naturopaths, located in Calgary, Alberta) were they performed 'Food specific IgG Antibody assessment'. From my understanding, IgG response is a 'delayed reaction' / intolerance.

My results were kinda odd also. Foods which I thought I had an issue with I had no apparent reaction noted in the test. I have always been pretty strict with my diet throughout my life since I was very in depth with organized sports. How I became a Crohn's Colitis individual diagnosed at age 34, no clue. No family history of the disease, no stomach issues in early age, teens, or young adult life. Symptoms came on strong one day (initially heavy gas, smaller stools) then positive diagnosis 5 months later.

It sounds like your more interested in treating the cause instead of the symptoms which I feel is necessary for this disease. I personally found really good success with the Specific Carbohydrate Diet so you may want to give that a read a true shot. Its a pain in the ass at the start, but honestly, you will know if its going to work for you in the 3 - 4 weeks. If your noticing symptoms subsiding, they will only get better the longer you stay on the diet.

My overall opinion on the IgG testing.. Its a helpful indicator but I wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket based on 1 test. The test requires you to eat all foods within a 2 week time frame before you take the test. If you don't do this, there will be no reaction.

Ultimately, in my own opinion it comes down to each individual's definition of 'remission'.