Allergy testing for 11 month old?

[Thankfulforhim]

Does anyone know if I should wait until a certain age to get testing done? I actually made an appointment with an allergist that does skin prick testing, but now I'm thinking about cancelling it. We don't have insurance and they said it'd cost $400-$1000. Now I'm reading about ELISA and ALCAT? testing and I'm wondering if I should do one of those instead. I read ELISA is a blood test and I'm thinking an 11 month old would be too little to take an ounce of blood from (I read that's how much they take). He's just started wanted to actually eat some food pieces, not much, so he's still getting his nutrition from bm. I have a ton of allergies and I'm hesitant to let him eat much of anything else...he's been reacting to the things he has eaten, besides reacting to stuff in my bm. I'm so frustrated and tired, I would just love to get him tested and have some clearer answers. Any thoughts are welcome. (btw, from the start I tried getting things out of my diet...I was down to oatmeal until I realized he must be reacting to IT, then I was on brown rice alot and think it is also a problem. So, oatmeal, corn, wheat, dairy, apples, chocolate (dairy/sugar/choc.) I just want to know what I/he CAN eat. I have no clue what to eat and then in a hungry spell eat the bad stuff).

[mom61508]

Originally Posted by Thankfulforhim

Does anyone know if I should wait until a certain age to get testing done? I actually made an appointment with an allergist that does skin prick testing, but now I'm thinking about cancelling it. We don't have insurance and they said it'd cost $400-$1000. Now I'm reading about ELISA and ALCAT? testing and I'm wondering if I should do one of those instead. I read ELISA is a blood test and I'm thinking an 11 month old would be too little to take an ounce of blood from (I read that's how much they take). He's just started wanted to actually eat some food pieces, not much, so he's still getting his nutrition from bm. I have a ton of allergies and I'm hesitant to let him eat much of anything else...he's been reacting to the things he has eaten, besides reacting to stuff in my bm. I'm so frustrated and tired, I would just love to get him tested and have some clearer answers. Any thoughts are welcome. (btw, from the start I tried getting things out of my diet...I was down to oatmeal until I realized he must be reacting to IT, then I was on brown rice alot and think it is also a problem. So, oatmeal, corn, wheat, dairy, apples, chocolate (dairy/sugar/choc.) I just want to know what I/he CAN eat. I have no clue what to eat and then in a hungry spell eat the bad stuff).

I hear ya. we are more sensitive than allergic i think but we are igg test for both of us this week. DD is 14 months so i'm a little nervous about pricking her finger

[Thankfulforhim]

Originally Posted by mom61508

I hear ya. we are more sensitive than allergic i think but we are igg test for both of us this week. DD is 14 months so i'm a little nervous about pricking her finger

Is the igg test the same as ELISA? I'm getting so confused on all of this. So they only have to prick her finger, not draw it with a needle? How do you go about ordering the test? Through your reg. doctor?

Thanks for your response!!!


EDIT update: ELISA pp just emailed me stating "We do not recommend testing children under the age of 2. Since the immune system is not fully developed and mimics that of the mother at this stage, you can test yourself and apply the results to the child."

Makes sense to me. They're refering me to someone and I'm getting tested. I can't wait.

[mom61508]

Originally Posted by Thankfulforhim

Is the igg test the same as ELISA? I'm getting so confused on all of this. So they only have to prick her finger, not draw it with a needle? How do you go about ordering the test? Through your reg. doctor?

Thanks for your response!!!


EDIT update: ELISA pp just emailed me stating "We do not recommend testing children under the age of 2. Since the immune system is not fully developed and mimics that of the mother at this stage, you can test yourself and apply the results to the child."

Makes sense to me. They're refering me to someone and I'm getting tested. I can't wait.

Ok we did elisa today which is igg. just a finger prick. DD was fine until we had to hold her arms to put the blood onto the paper...she hated that. My ND set the tests to me. She said we could start with me or do both...dd and i but know i don't know If I should send both tests in or not per what you said?????????????????

[Thankfulforhim]

Originally Posted by mom61508

Ok we did elisa today which is igg. just a finger prick. DD was fine until we had to hold her arms to put the blood onto the paper...she hated that. My ND set the tests to me. She said we could start with me or do both...dd and i but know i don't know If I should send both tests in or not per what you said?????????????????

Glad it wasn't too bad for your little one. On the site it says they take an ounce of blood. hmmm. I got their contact info. at their site:
ELISA/ACT Biotechnologies LLC
46161 Westlake Drive, Suite 300A
Sterling, VA 20165
Phone: [phone] • 703.450.2980
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

I got an intolerence test 10 months ago by an ND and she took some blood on paper. It showed only acouple things...I was so dissapointed. I'm hoping this test will give better results. I've read where alot of pp say they have the same allergies as their baby so I'm fine w/ just me getting tested at this point. I don't know what I'd do if I were you. Maybe send both in if I had the money.

[mom61508]

Spoke with my ND and she said she's been using the Elisa for years for babies under 2 with great results. So we are sending both tests in

She said it would be ok to just to mine(mamma is a good place to start) but would be great to do DD's also to compare and really get to the bottom of things. I'll let you know how it pans out

[Thankfulforhim]

Originally Posted by mom61508

Spoke with my ND and she said she's been using the Elisa for years for babies under 2 with great results. So we are sending both tests in

She said it would be ok to just to mine(mamma is a good place to start) but would be great to do DD's also to compare and really get to the bottom of things. I'll let you know how it pans out

Awesome and exciting. I hope you get good results! Yes, please let me know how it goes!