Alcat testing

[razzle51]

has anyone done this testing with good results

[SilverLining]

That is not allergy testing.  I looked it up, and a clinic that offers it doesn't have even one legitimate doctor on their team.

[LinksEtc]

The ALCAT is not a reliable test for food allergy.

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"Debunking Alternative Food Allergy Tests and Therapies"
http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=72title=Debunking_alternative_food_allergy_tests_and_therapies

The more popular tests often claim to reveal hidden allergies that medical allergy tests cannot detect. Most of these, including cytotoxic , ELISA/ACT, ALCAT, and NuTron testing study the changes to white blood cells in the presence of certain allergens. All of these tests deliver unreliable results

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"Validity of testing for food allergy using ALCAT or BAT(basophil activation test)"

http://www.aaaai.org/ask-the-expert/validity-of-testing-for-food-allergy-using-ALCAT-o.aspx

Answer:
I believe that the ALCAT is a test of unproven diagnostic efficacy. The best source of information for you in this regard is the following reference:

Wuthrich B. Unprudent techniques in allergy diagnosis. Journal of Investigative Allergology and Clinical Immunology 2005; 15:86-90.

[roz]

you can get alcat testing all over the us ... and it is for food allergys 

[razzle51]

https://www.facebook.com/pages/ALCAT-Food-and-Chemical-Sensitivity-Testing/34288719244

[CMdeux]

http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Tests/allergytests.html

http://www.aaaai.org/ask-the-expert/validity-of-testing-for-food-allergy-using-ALCAT-o.aspx


If you suspect that you have food allergies, see a board-certified ALLERGIST.   

If you suspect that you have other food intolerance, particularly to gluten-- see someone who can accurately diagnose your condition.

ALCAT is not a way to do this.

[CMdeux]

http://www.aaaai.org/ask-the-expert/validity-of-testing-for-food-allergy-using-ALCAT-o.aspx


ALCAT is not a useful diagnostic tool for the evaluation and diagnosis of IgE-mediated food allergy-- at least not in the way that it is (mostly) being sold to patients.  It's not really any better than skin testing, and maybe not even that good.  Mechanistically, there's no reason why it SHOULD be, either.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/diet-weight-loss/1424758-alcat-food-intolerance-testing-accurate-weight.html

[CMdeux]

More information about ALCAT-- from medical insurance providers, medical associations, etc.:

https://www.bcbsal.org/providers/policies/final/165.pdf

www.jiaci.org/issues/vol15issue02/1.pdf

http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/1_99/0038.html

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/igg-food-intolerance-tests-what-does-the-science-say/


The latter is one of my very favorite summaries of what is legit and what is not-- and WHY.

[SilverLining]

I have merged the two threads on the same topic.