Questions about the Food Intolerance Test & Food Allergy Test

• Why test for food intolerance and allergies?

  Many people suffer from food allergies and intolerances – often without knowing it. In some cases, it is difficult to identify symptoms after consuming a certain food in day-to-day life. In the case of food intolerances, reactions can also be quite delayed. A Food Intolerance Test provides valuable and helpful information on which foods might not be tolerated.

  Our Food Intolerance Test & Food Allergy Test offers an initial orientation: both specific IgE antibodies and IgG4 antibodies are determined for a wide range of foods. A large proportion of all food allergies and intolerances can be traced back to the foods examined in the test.

  Please note: The cerascreen® Food Intolerance Test & Food Allergy Test does draw any conclusions about intolerances to lactose, fructose, sorbitol, histamine or gluten. This is due to the fact that these intolerances are not based on IgE and IgG4 antibodies. Cerascreen® offers additional intolerance tests for lactose, fructose, sorbitol, histamine and gluten.

• How do you test for intolerances?

  To take the food intolerance test, collect a small blood sample from your fingertip with one of the enclosed lancets. Only a few drops of blood are needed.

  Return the sample using the free return envelope enclosed in the test kit. In the medical laboratory, the sample will be analysed to determine the level of certain IgE and IgG4 antibodies in the blood sample. When the analysis is complete, you will receive a notification and be able to access the results report easily when you log in to our website or even via the My cerascreen® app.

  Important: You will get the most reliable results if you have followed a balanced diet for about two weeks before taking the sample. Also, please do not eat any foods that you know might cause a reaction (for example, anaphylactic shock). Please do not take any antihistamines either.

• What do the results tell me?

  The results report of the Food Intolerance Test & Food Allergy Test shows for which foods there are larger amounts of IgE and IgG4 antibodies in your blood sample.

  A table shows to which extent you are sensitised to 24 different foods and food groups, meaning whether there are too many of the food-specific IgE antibodies in your blood sample. This sensitisation tells you the likelihood of your immune system having allergic reactions to a certain food.

  The other table shows you how many IgG4 antibodies to 38 foods are present in the blood. According to alternative medical theories, a medium or reaction can give a first indication of whether or not there might be any food intolerances.

• What kind of recommendations will I receive?

  Neither the IgE nor IgG4 levels are in themselves a diagnosis. Only general practitioners can diagnose an allergy or intolerance with certainty. In both cases, it is possible that elevated levels are not associated with any discomfort you may be experiencing.

  You can use the Food Intolerance Test & Food Allergy Test results as a first indication to discuss further steps with your GP. The results report also provides you with tips on how you can further explore which foods you can and cannot tolerate by eliminating certain foods from your meal plan.

  You will also receive recommendations on how to deal with identified allergies and intolerances and how to keep your diet balanced.

• What do ‘IgE’ and ‘IgG4’ mean?

  Immunoglobulins E (IgE) and Immunoglobulins G4 (IgG4) are two types of antibodies. They are part of the defense component of the immune system. Both IgE and IgG4 are groups of specific antibodies that are specialised in defending against very specific foreign bodies.

  In the case of an allergy, specific IgE antibodies are found in a too high frequency in the body. They cause the immune system to dysfunction when harmless proteins from pollen, animal hair or even food enter the body. The messenger substance histamine is then released, leading to inflammation and the typical allergy symptoms.

  IgG4 food intolerance is an alternative medical theory that is currently not supported by scientific studies. According to the theory, an increased number of specific IgG4 antibodies leads to defensive and inflammatory reactions. The symptoms should usually appear with a time delay – up to hours or days after you have eaten the intolerable food.

• What kinds of food intolerances will be tested?

  In the case of a food allergy or food intolerance, the symptoms usually appear immediately or shortly after eating. Nuts, soya and animal foods such as milk, eggs and shellfish, in particular, can also trigger a harmful allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock), during which a sudden drop in blood pressure can lead to fainting and, in rare cases, death.

  Typical symptoms of food allergy or food intolerance:
  - skin rashes
  - gastrointestinal discomfort such as diarrhoea and abdominal pain
  - An itchy palate and ‘furry tongue’
  - Respiratory problems to allergic asthma

• Which kind of foods causes allergies?

  More than 170 foods can be the cause of allergies and food intolerances. However, there are some foods that are by far the most common triggers.
  These include:
  - cow’s milk and eggs
  - pulses
  - nuts
  - wheat
  - fish and shellfish

  Allergies to various types of fruit, vegetables and spices are somewhat less common.

  Most food allergies emerge during childhood. Allergies to cow’s milk, eggs, wheat and soya often develop during adolescence, while allergies to nuts, fish and shellfish usually last for a lifetime.

• Can food intolerances go away?

  There is currently no cure for food intolerances – the best recommendation is to avoid the food that is causing you discomfort, or reduce the amount of it that you consume.

  Alternatively, a good way to see if an intolerance goes away is to exclude the problematic food from your diet. This is called an elimination diet. If you have a food intolerance to more than one food, exclude one food item at a time. See if you notice your symptoms subside after two to six weeks; if they do, start reintroducing the food to see if symptoms come back.

  Please note: When you eliminate certain foods from your diet, you should still maintain a balanced and healthy diet.

• What are IgG4 intolerances?

  According to an alternative medical theory, high concentrations of specific IgG4 antibodies are a sign of an intolerance to certain foods. According to this theory, inflammatory reactions occur in the gut after the consumption of food.

  This link between the concentration of IgG4 antibodies and the presence of food intolerances is currently the subject of scientific controversy.

• How do IgG4 intolerances manifest themselves?

  IgG4 intolerances may only appear hours or even days after you have eaten the food in question.

  Possible symptoms of food intolerance:
  - Gastrointestinal discomfort, especially flatulence
  - Headaches and migraines
  - Lassitude
  - Whistling breath sounds and running nose
  - Skin rashes

• Which medications can I use for food intolerances and allergies?

  There is no therapy to cure an allergy or intolerance to food. IgG4 food intolerances can, according to theories, disappear if you have avoided the trigger for a while.

  If you have a food allergy, medication (antihistamines) can ease the symptoms in the short term if you have consumed an allergen. People who have particularly severe allergic reactions often carry an anaphylaxis emergency kit with an adrenaline injector (EpiPen) to counteract an anaphylactic shock.

• For whom is the food intolerance test not suitable?

  The cerascreen® Food Intolerance Test is not suitable for or is only partially suitable for certain groups of people:
  - People with infectious diseases, like hepatitis and HIV, may not use the Food Intolerance Test.
  - People with haemophilia should not take the test.
  - Pregnant and breastfeeding women should only take the Food Reaction Test under medical supervision. The given reference ranges and recommendations do not apply for people in this group; consult your medical professional for advice concerning your test results.
  - The Food Reaction Test is not intended for children under the age of 18.

  The test is not intended for diagnosing diseases. For example, if you suffer from chronic diarrhoea or extreme pain, consult a doctor.