Tex, is Alcat testing a good idea?
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Tex, is Alcat testing a good idea?
They test for food sensitvities. Thanks for any feedback
MC diagnosed 2007
I really don't know. I've never tried any of their tests. Here's what Wikipedia says about the test:
The problem that I pointed out though (inconsistent results from identical samples), is a deal killer, IMO. If for example, you were to submit identical samples to EnteroLab for testing, I would be willing to bet that the results would be identical. That's why most of us use EnteroLab testing, and not ALCAT testing.
Tex
Based on what the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy says about the tests yielding different results from duplicate samples, I wouldn't have much faith in the results. The rest of what they say though is irrelevant, because "conventional" testing for food allergies totally sucks also, and they probably don't recognize that food sensitivities actually do play a pathogenic role in IBDs such as MC, nor do they even realize that there is a difference between food allergies (IgE-based reactions) and food sensitivities (IgA-based reactions). Therefore their assessment has to be taken with a huge grain of salt because it obviously contains a lot of incorrect information (due to the fact that it is based on incorrect assumptions).The ALCAT test, or antigen leukocyte antibody test, is one that claims to measure adverse reactions to dietary substances. It was created by American Medical Testing Laboratories and is now marketed by Cell Science Systems (also known as ALCAT Diagnostic Systems) of Deerfield Beach, Florida.
The test is not supported by research and is not considered to be a reliable medical diagnostic tool; since it has not been appropriately validated it is not a suitable guide for therapeutic decisions.[1][2][3][4][5][6] In a position statement, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy classified the ALCAT with other forms of cytotoxic tests as inappropriate tests, saying of them
"These results have been shown to not be reproducible, give different results when duplicate samples are analysed blindly, don't correlate with those from conventional testing, and 'diagnose' food hypersensitivity in subjects with conditions where food allergy is not considered to play a pathogenic role."[7]
The problem that I pointed out though (inconsistent results from identical samples), is a deal killer, IMO. If for example, you were to submit identical samples to EnteroLab for testing, I would be willing to bet that the results would be identical. That's why most of us use EnteroLab testing, and not ALCAT testing.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thanks so much.
The problem with Enterolab is that according to them, if I haven't eaten the foods in a year or longer, I can't remember the exact answer they gave me, but the idea was that I needed to have eaten the foods fairly recently or the test won't be accurate.
I saw somewhere that you recommend the MRT over the Alcat.
The problem with Enterolab is that according to them, if I haven't eaten the foods in a year or longer, I can't remember the exact answer they gave me, but the idea was that I needed to have eaten the foods fairly recently or the test won't be accurate.
I saw somewhere that you recommend the MRT over the Alcat.
MC diagnosed 2007
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Gabes-Apg
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This discussion and the article link at the end maybe of interest to you...
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=21227
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=21227
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
That would be true for any food sensitivity test (regardless of what the ads might claim).mcnomore wrote:The problem with Enterolab is that according to them, if I haven't eaten the foods in a year or longer, I can't remember the exact answer they gave me, but the idea was that I needed to have eaten the foods fairly recently or the test won't be accurate.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.