Alcat

Alcat Food Sensitivity Test

What Is Alcat Test?

The Alcat Test measures immune cell response to specific foods, additives, and other dietary items. Uncovering inflammatory foods and other substances that when avoid can help with weigh management, health optimization, performance enhancement.

Relief or elimination of inflammation-driven symptoms of acute or chronic disorders such as

Gut (Celiac, IBS, Crohn’s disease, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gastritis, acid reflux)
Metabolic (obesity, type 2 diabetes, thyroid, inability to lose weight)
Skin (acne, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, urticaria)
Musculoskeletal (stiff/sore joints, arthritis, tendonitis, fibromyalgia)
Respiratory (chronic cough, asthma, post nasal drip, wheezing, sinusitis)
Neurological (chronic fatigue, headache, migraine, cognitive impairment, ADD, ADHD)

The Alcat Test does NOT measure “true” food allergy where symptom onset is immediate and acute. The Alcat test measures food sensitivities which are often delayed, low grade and chronic. therefore, someone may not be aware that chronic symptoms are caused by foods regularly consumed or other substances frequently encountered.

Scientifically Proven Benefits*:

Weight Management – 98%
Gastrointestinal disorders – 87%
Skin disorders – 90%
Migraine/Headache – 95%
Respiratory disorders – 95%
Stress/burnout 60%
Depression/Anxiety 31%
Inflammatory arthritis 65%

*Alcat Test meta-analysis [8,9] – 1300 patients, symptoms improvement in percentage)

What Can Be Tested?

More than 450 individual substances can be tested from a single blood draw.

Food Panel: Nearly 250 foods are available. Special consideration is given to gluten and dairy sensitivities.

Chemical Panel: Nearly 100 additives which can provide guidance as to whether certain cosmetics, drugs, detergents, pesticides, and other should be avoided.

Medicinal Herbs & Functional Foods: 100 items (male/female profiles), which are commonly found in supplements, tea or Eastern herbs.

Molds: 20 items that are often encountered in foods, the home, garden, and nature.

The Alcat panel can be paired with several genetic and specialized tests also offered by Cell Science Systems.

Alcat test results are categorized by your individual degree of cellular reactivity (severe, moderate, mild, or non-reactive) and reported in an easy to read color-coded format.

A suggested dietary rotation plan is provided along with descriptions of times to be avoided. Patients and their practitioners have access to a clinical support team consisting of registered/licensed dietitians/nutritionists (RDNs) as well as optional meal planning tools.

The Power of Personalized Diet and Nutrition

ALCAT test shows what to eat and what not to eat. It identifies triggers of inflammation and provides information necessary to build a healthy and anti-inflammatory diet. An individual response to over 450 substances are measured at the cellular level and may reveal the underlying trigger of chronic symptoms.

Food and chemical sensitivities have been linked to migraines, aching joints, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders and many other conditions related to chronic activation of the immune system.

Clinical assessments of the Alcat Test used to guide dietary modification have shown significant improvement in many common symptoms. The efficacy of the Alcat test has been documented in numerous studies implementing rigorous double-blind and often placebo controlled study designs.

The Alcat Test measures immune cell reactions through stimulation of leukocytes. The leukocytes, include monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and neutrophils can be challenged with individual food extracts or chemicals. Innate immune cell defense reactions, e.g. of neutrophils are instrumental in initiation of inflammation. While this is a very effective first-line defense strategy against acute infections, chronic activation of the immune e system may lead to health disorders.

In contrast to allergy test, the Alcat Test is designed to test for sensitivities. Allergy is immediate hives and anaphylaxis. Sensitivities are most often responsible for chronic inflammatory symptoms. The Alcat Test is not an IgG immunoglobulin/antibody test. IgG immunoglobulin testing does not assess or measure a pathological process and may simply reflect exposure and tolerance (not intolerance). The Alcat Test does not identify type 1 classical IgE mediated allergies (e.g. anaphylaxis).

The inflammation resulting from cellular reactions to food, chemicals and other substances can be associated with both acute and chronic pathologies. The Alcat test is appropriate for people struggling with many common symptoms.

If you have the following symptoms gastrointestinal disorder, skin symptoms, learning disorder, joint pain, neurological symptoms, respiratory disease, headaches, infertility, metabolic/endocrine disorders, immune system and other co-morbidities call us today to schedule an appointment with our physician to discuss the Alcat test and how it may help you identify potential food sensitivities and modify your diet for an improved overall quality of life.

Alcat Test vs. Allergy Test

The Alcat Test

(Leukocyte Activation)

Determines the reactivity of the “first responders”- cells of the innate immune system.
Identifies foods that provoke an inflammatory response from innate immune cells
Uses precise impedance flow cytometry
WBCs are exposed to foods, herbs, spices, chemicals, additives. When WBCs are activated by an offender, changes in number and size of WBCs are detected

IgG/IgG4

(Immunoglobulin G/antibody)

Measures antibodies, a parameter of the specific immune system
Identifies exposure to foods, not a pathological process/sensitivity
May indicate tolerance to the food rather than an intolerance
Uses the ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) method
Mainly directed at protein agents

Only validated food sensitivity test
Yale School of Medicine research supports the Alcat Test as a tool to identify foods/compounds that trigger the inflammatory reactions associated with food sensitivity
Research correlates leukocyte activation results with biomarkers indicative of an immune inflammatory response.
Research has demonstrated that the Alcat Test picks up known inflammatory pathways (PKC/NF-kB)

Contemporary research suggests that the presence of IgG antibodies indicates exposure and tolerance. IgG4 antibodies may actually help sustain tolerance to a food or compound
IgG class antibodies may block negative effects of IgE antibodies
Expert committees of international scientific societies do not recommend the use of IgG antibody testing for the detection of food sensitivities.

Demonstrated high correlation with double blind oral challenges (the gold standard)
Research confirms the high reproducibility, sensitivity, and specificity of the Alcat Test

Poor specificity (high false positive results)
Unnecessary dietary restrictions/false “diagnoses”
Not an indicator of food allergy or food sensitivity, but a natural physiological response of the immune system to food/allergen exposure