blood titre test for allergies (not RAST)

[USAmma]

I just spoke to a mom today who said this test worked wonders for her child, who has a similar history as mine (tube-fed due to FTT and reflux, allergies, E.E.). My dd's E.E. is complex. According to the GI there are no accurate tests that will help us figure out what's causing the E.E. The skin prick test is for immediate reactions. E.E. are different allergy cells and have a delayed reaction. The allergens won't cause a positive skin test.

I wonder how accurate this test really is and why my allergist says it's not accurate or proven. It's also very expensive.

http://www.betterhealthusa.com/public/department6.cfm

Thoughts?

[Chinese Pistache]

I think this is referring to the ELISA bloodtest, that tests (I think) both IgE (immediate reactions) and IgG (delayed) responses. You can get it through quite a few companies. I've heard good things about Immunolabs (directlabs.com). A few ladies on the Healing the Gut thread have done it, as well as a few posters on another allergy board I'm on. They all thought it was very useful. If it wasn't so expensive, I would get it done for me and my dd.

[USAmma]

Thanks for your reply. I was not even sure what it was called exactly. I was referred to a local naturopath but we will have to save up to afford her services as well as the test. I want to do a lot of research first to make sure our money is well spent.

[mtm]

we just did IGG testing, should have the results this week. We've done ige testing with mixed results and are still missing stuff that is hurtinh him so I'm really hoping this helps.

[USAmma]

Please let me know what the results are. I am curious to see if there is any overlap between IGE and IGG.

[thepeach80]

You could do patch testing too, that often helps. It helped Evan, even though he's not EE. Also, have you tried the normal testing? I would do it just to see if anything came up, at least it would be a start. I had a friend who did the ELISA testing and it's helped her a lot w/ her own intolerances. EE is very complicated and unless you have a DR who is very knowledgable about it, you may see it take longer to get your dd's under control. I HIGHLY reccomend joining www.kidswithfoodallergies.org just for the EOS info and boards there as well as support from other parents. The most common treatment is Neocate only for 6wks and then add in foods after a clear scope as w/out a beginning clear scope, it's nearly impossible to tell what the offending foods are.

ETA: There's also a good EOS group on Yahoo.

[fullofhope]

I had an allergy test through a naturopath in Arizona that tested for IgE and IgG. I had none of the immediate response (IgE?) but lots of the delayed. We didn't take it as the final say- we used it to narrow down possible triggers and then did an elimination diet. It turned out to be very accurate, though. What it didn't catch of course were my intolerances, like gluten and citrus. When my ds is a bit older we are planning to test him, as I keep feeling like there is something we are missing with him. I'm sorry I don't remember the name of the test, or what lab it was done through.

[USAmma]

Thank you. She has an allergist appt on Feb 20 and I will bring up the IGG test. At her last appt she had not been dx with EE yet so that's probably why they only did the skin prick tests.