Food allergies, something in common these days. Most of the people often fall prey into the hands of food allergy, but nothing comes out in the tests. Since most of the food allergy tests done do not produce accurate results.
Moreover, some people today prefer to buy allergy food tests from the wholesaler and get the results back faster, which shows the number of things to which they are allergic. However, most of the food allergy tests are mainly based on the IgG tests, which is a total inaccurate method.



If you are allergic to foods, some erratic food tests that generate incorrect results is not going to help; rather it might get you distracted from finding real reason behind.
In this context, first, you need to recognise what are allergies and what are not allergies. Since, allergy is an attack of dangerous bacteria or virus, that revs up the immune system.
However, not all severe reaction causes a food allergy; some may be due to intolerance. Say if someone lacks enzyme that let them digest the lactose, then you will start feeling sick, after you drink one glass of cow's milk, but that does not mean you have milk allergy.
So, to recognise the difference between food allergy and intolerance one needs to go through the following tests –

IgG Tests

This is one of the standard tests, which you can do from the independent labs. It is a test to measure the allergic reaction or allergy to any given nutriment by measuring if the body makes antibodies is not. Antibodies are nothing but soldiers in the attack. These IgG antibodies are those antibodies that are associated with various foods. As soon as you get to measure IgG antibodies to certain food item, then you get to know how much allergic you are to it.
The theory is beautiful, but actually, it does not work. Reason is very simple since IgG antibodies aren't something to look for. However, the IgG antibodies are not involved in food allergy, and neither causes real allergic responses. It is common for individual to opt these test, but still, the test cannot tell you are reacting or not reacting to.


 

IgE Tests

IgE antibodies, they are the ones that are involved in many of the allergic reactions. Therefore, testing for IgE will mainly tell if any individual is mounting attack on the kind of food. There are two common way to do IgE tests –
1.       Skin prick test is something where a doctor will put food on patient’s skin and will scratch the skin underneath. In case the patient feels sensitive to food, then IgE antibodies will set off reaction that will release histamine.
2.       The second test is blood test for proof of the IgE antibodies to specific foods.

Performing Oral Food Tests

In this test, the patient needs to show up to the doctor's place for two different visits. At one visit, the patient gets a placebo food, at the second visit the patient get the allergic food in disguise.
In this food allergy test, you need to skip the IgG test entirely since it is not a legitimate way to predict which foods are responsible for the symptoms. However, being comfortable and cheap people prefer it to others. It is better to avoid it and go for oral and IgE tests.