Full Food Allergy Testing Brisbane
Food Allergies are not common and only about 2.5% of the population actually have them. Food Intolerance is what a majority of our patients are diagnosed with. A Food Allergy is when your immune system severely overreacts to a specific food. In fact, your body responds as if that food were toxic! This is where food allergy testing can help. If you:
- have trouble breathing
- break out in a rash
- swell up, or
- go into anaphylactic shock (potentially life-threatening)
you may have a food allergy.
What If I am Not Experiencing These Symptoms?
If you are not experiencing these symptoms, it is more likely that you have a Food Intolerance. For more information about our, Food Intolerance Testing click here. If you are unsure about your symptoms, feel free to call the clinic for advice.
Don’t Make the Mistake and Visit an Allergy Clinic For Food Intolerance!
If you visit an Allergy Clinic and do not have a food allergy most doctors will refer you to a Nutritionist or Dietitian, which will be at an additional cost. A nutritionist or dietitian will most likely ask you to complete a Food Elimination Diet which is quite difficult and often fail due to the fact that you must deprive yourself of certain foods. Completing a Food Intolerance test is fast, painless and you receive the results within the week. Our practitioners can recommend a plan for your diet and nutrition allowing you to move forward immediately. Again, if you are unsure about whether you have a Food Allergy or Food Intolerance call the clinic for advice.
What Testing Options Are Available for Food Allergies?
You have two options when testing for allergies. A skin prick test or a blood test. At Brisbane Livewell Clinic our preference for Food Allergy Testing is by Blood Testing, performed off site in a laboratory. Allergy blood tests detect and measure the amount of allergen-specific antibodies in your blood. When you come into contact with an allergy trigger (allergen), your body makes antibodies against it. The antibodies tell cells in your body to release certain chemicals which cause allergy symptoms. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is an antibody that’s strongly linked to the body’s allergy response.
During a Skin Prick Test, an allergist places a drop of solution containing the food allergen on your forearm or back. (When testing fruits or vegetables, fresh food might be used instead of a solution.) Using a small plastic probe or needle, the doctor pricks or scratches the skin to allow a tiny amount of the solution to enter just below the surface. Blood Testing is less invasive than skin prick tests (see picture below) and are particularly good if you:
- Are using a medicine known to interfere with test results and cannot stop taking it for a few days. This would include antihistamines, steroids, and certain antidepressants
- Cannot tolerate the many needle scratches required for skin testing. Have an unstable heart condition.
- Have poorly controlled asthma.
- Have severe eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, or another severe skin condition.
- Might have an extreme reaction during skin testing or have a history of life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
- Brisbane Livewell Clinic does not perform Skin Prick Testing.
How Can Naturopathy Help Food Allergies?
Our Naturopathic approach to food allergies is to identify why you have the allergy and then treat the root cause of the problem.
1. Get the Proper Diagnosis
A professional diagnosis is so important with food allergies because other medical conditions share the same symptoms. Our practitioner will sit down with you for an hour during your first consultation, discussing current symptoms, previous history, previous treatment, diet and lifestyle, using a wide range of diagnostic tools and deciding whether allergy testing is the right way to go.
2. Get the Right Allergy Test for You
There are so many different types of allergy tests out there and it can be hard to know which one is right for you. Our practitioner spends the time to get a clear diagnosis so that you end up with the right test. No more driving across town and sitting in waiting rooms for hours. Our allergy tests are done by Healthscope or QML who have a wide range of blood collection centres around Brisbane. All you need to do is pick when and where and go give a blood sample. We take care of the rest! The most common Food Allergy Tests that we complete are:
- Childhood Allergy Testing which includes testing for House Dust Mite, Grass Pollen Mix, Cat, Dog, Horse, Mould Mix, Milk, Egg White, Wheat, Soy, Fish – Cod, Peanut, Cashew, Almond and Hazelnut
- Allergenic Food Testing which includes testing for Milk, Egg White, Soy, Wheat, Sesame Seed, Peanut, Cashew, Almond, Hazelnut, Strawberry, Banana, Fish-Cod, Oyster, Shrimp (Prawn), Rice, Corn, Potato, Kiwi Fruit, Beef, Mango
3. A Tailored Plan Just For You
In most clinics, once diagnosed, the Allergist or Doctor will then refer you to their Dietitian to assist you with an eating plan. This can mean additional costs starting at as much as $120.00 and this is on top of what you’ve paid for the Allergist and the testing. At the Brisbane Livewell Clinic, our food allergy specialist will work with you from start to finish, explaining your test results and what they mean for you and tailoring a treatment plan specifically designed for you.
You will be provided with Practitioner Approved Supplements or Customised Herbs or Homeopathics to help you manage your immediate symptoms. Our practitioner will also recommend the right dietary and lifestyle changes that will tackle the root cause of your allergies.
We take every aspect of your health into consideration because we treat the person – not just an aspect.
