Food Allergy Testing

FOOD ALLERGY OR FOOD INTOLERANCE TESTING IN PITTSBURGH

Roughly 80% of today’s population has a sensitivity or intolerance to a certain type of food. Think of how many friends and relatives mention they’re lactose intolerant or gluten sensitive. Of that number, less than 5% actually has the IgE antibody associated with a “true” allergy. This means a traditional food allergy test won’t detect a food sensitivity / intolerance problem.

This is why Dr. Daniel Turack administers the ALCAT test to anyone in need of food allergy or food intolerance testing in Pittsburgh. This is the most comprehensive food allergy/sensitivity testing available in the Wexford, PA area.

The ALCAT is different from other food sensitivity or food allergy tests as it effectively measures system related responses when exposed to certain foods, chemical, or mold particles.

By measuring the body’s reaction to over 350 foods and chemicals, patients will learn which foods are negatively impacting their health. The ones with the most severe adverse reactions are food allergies and should be avoided altogether. There will also be a breakdown as to which foods are causing reactions indicative of a food sensitivity/intolerance issue, which foods are generally safe to consume, and which foods are best in moderation.

To Dr. Turack and staff, the ALCAT is our way to ensure an accurate diagnosis and gain insight into what could be the cause of Celiac’s disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and many other autoimmune conditions. By identifying a root cause or contributor, we can treat it, and get you one step closer to feeling better.

Food Allergy vs. Food Intolerance

What’s the Difference?

So, what’s the difference between a food allergy and food sensitivity or intolerance? It comes down to an immune response vs. enzyme deficiency.

An allergic reaction is a severely adverse immune response. With a food allergy, a protein in that specific food triggers an immune response. This response typically includes a skin reaction such as hives, itching, or swelling, gastrointestinal upset, and respiratory symptoms at times. An allergic reaction to a certain food can sometimes be severe and life threatening.

With food intolerance or sensitivity, there is generally some sort of enzyme deficiency that compromises the digestion of a certain substance in that food. This can be a chemical, naturally occurring histamine, salicylic acid, food additive, or toxins from food poisoning.

The core symptoms of food sensitivity generally come from the gut. While an adverse reaction to food intolerance can be extremely unpleasant, it is rarely life threatening.

What Makes the ALCAT Test Better than a Food Allergy Test?

The ALCAT is state of the art testing that utilizes electronic hematological instrumentation. This is much better than standard allergy tests – skin testing or RAST – where there is a delayed reaction to foods and chemicals that affects their accuracy. These tests measure only a single mechanism, like the existence of allergen specific IgE molecules. There is no correlation between delayed food reactions and IgE.

Call Us for Pittsburgh Food Allergy / Food Intolerance Testing

If you suspect a food allergy or sensitivity issue, and you’re in the Pittsburgh-area, contact Dr. Turack to schedule an ALCAT test at his Wexford, PA office for a proper diagnosis and course of treatment.