IgG stands for Immunoglobulin (type G). Immunoglobulins are a class of proteins that function as antibodies produced by the immune system in response to foreign bodies entering the body. There are several different types of immunoglobulins with IgA, IgE, IgG, IgM being the most well-known.

Generally, foods are broken down during digestion into their component parts e.g., amino acids, glycerides etc. These pass harmlessly through the gut into the bloodstream. However, occasionally small fragments of partially digested or undigested foods can pass through the gut wall into the bloodstream where they are recognised by the immune system as being ‘foreign’. The immune system responds by making IgG antibodies to these foods.

When a food causes the body to produce high levels of IgG then these antibodies combine with the protein in the food to form an ‘antigen-antibody complex’. These complexes are usually eliminated by other cells in the immune system. However, if the immune system is overloaded, these complexes become deposited in tissues within the body, causing chronic inflammation and the subsequent production of symptoms.

Yes, some people do have high IgG levels to certain foods but do not have any symptoms at all. This is most likely due to their immune system being extremely efficient at clearing away the antigen-antibody complexes before they have chance to be deposited in the tissues and cause a problem.

It is true that certain common foods are more likely to show a positive result e.g., wheat, dairy, soya. The reason for this is that these foods are consumed on a regular basis in our diet and along with digestive issues this can increase the likelihood that the body may react to them. While an elimination diet will always be the gold standard, the benefit of doing a food sensitivity test is that it will be able to quickly show which foods eaten on a regular basis are a potential problem. In addition, the tests can highlight more unusual foods which a person may not have considered removing from their diet.

The efficacy of a diet based on the measurement of IgG antibodies specific for food components has been demonstrated in several conditions, both in independent studies and clinical practice. Excellent results have been obtained in patients with migraine, IBS, and obesity.

A food sensitivity test is not recommended during pregnancy as the immune system is suppressed. However, 4-6 weeks after giving birth should be ok.

CNSLab’s existing policy for a lower age limit on testing for IgG food antibodies is that we do not recommend testing on children under the age of 2 years. We base this on the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Guidelines for the Diagnosis of Coeliac Disease 2012, which states that there is a possibility of false negative results occurring in infants younger than 2 years of age. This related to the fact that the infant gut is more permeable than that of an adult coupled with immature mucosal immunity that is still in the learning and development stage. We have used this criterion as antibody measurements in Coeliac Disease are comparable to food IgG measurements used in our food sensitivity tests. However, we are aware that there are in fact no published guidelines that specifically indicate a minimum age for testing for such IgG antibodies, for example the guidelines for testing for coeliac antibodies indicate that such testing can be performed any time after the introduction of gluten into the diet. Therefore, where such requests are received from a statutory regulated professional the decision of when and what tests to perform will remain the responsibility of the requesting clinician.

Customers should avoid the use of immunosuppressant medication if possible if performing these tests, as they may have an impact upon the results. For more information on medications that might affect food sensitivity test results, please contact us at [email protected]

Food extracts are 'printed' onto nitrocellulose 'pads'™ on a glass microscope slide, together with calibration standards and controls. A blood sample provided by the patient is diluted and dispensed onto each printed microarray. Food IgG antibodies, if present, bind to the food extracts and the results are measured by a high-resolution scanner, before being calibrated against the standards using the FoodPrint reporting software to give quantitative results. This software then produces a tailor-made printout of the final food IgG antibody result for each food on the requested food panel.

Food Detective® is a point-of-care food sensitivity test which uses ELISA technology to detect the presence of IgG antibodies to 59 common foods. There is no need to send your sample off to a lab as the test can be carried out in-clinic, giving results within 40 minutes. The test will show results as blue spots if positive and includes a control to identify whether or not the test has been performed correctly.

FoodPrint® is our comprehensive laboratory service and requires samples to be sent to the lab for analysis. The technology is more advanced than that employed by Food Detective, as it uses microarray technology which enables a more sensitive test to be performed. Due to this, a greater number of foods can be tested, and we offer a choice of 5 panels: FoodPrint 40+, 120+, 200+, Vegetarian 160+ and Vegan 150+, as well as an Indicator test. The Indicator test provides a positive or negative response and will require an upgrade to a larger test if the result comes back positive in order to identify which foods are causing the problem.

In general, we recommend that you follow your normal diet, so that the test will reflect what you usually eat. If you are avoiding a food because you suspect or have a confirmed diagnosis of a food allergy, then you should continue to avoid that food. However, if you have specifically avoided a food for more than three months e.g., cow's milk, which used to be part of your normal diet and you would like it tested, we would recommend it is reintroduced. The recommendations are to reintroduce the food for 1 week eating a normal portion of that food at least once daily before taking your blood sample. If symptoms occur once the food is re-introduced, we recommend that you discontinue that food and conclude you are still intolerant to it.

Although it is advisable to completely fill the tube, a half-filled microvette tube should be enough to run the test. If there are any problems with a sample the lab will let the customer know. However, if you are ordering two tests, we can test from one sample if you provide a full microvette.

Yes, it does need to be stored in the fridge with the lid secured if not sending on the same day.

You can upgrade for up to a maximum of 4 weeks from the date that your first sample is received.

A finger prick blood sample is required. Results are available within 5 working days (excluding bank holidays).

FoodPrint screens for all IgG subclasses 1-4, with the numbers on the test report representing the total IgG concentration for each food extract in the selected panel.