food allergy testing We did testing for Celiac to determine a gluten intolerance (which he definitely had) and also IgG ELISA food allergy testing, which involves only a finger prick and you fill up a little tiny paper (sort of looks like a piece of white litmus paper, but it isn't) and send it off to be analyzed. I did the finger prick at home and then mailed it myself. My son's developemental pediatrician recommended the test. The test kit was provided by York Nutritionals (www.yorkallergyusa.com) and that is who you send it back to for the results, which takes about 3 weeks. The IgG ELISA tests for food intolerances or Type III food allergies, which can cause delayed reactions, unlike the IgE allergies, which are immediate onset reactions. The RAST test is for IgE type allergies. My son's test results showed moderate intolerances for wheat, all other gluten, casein, soy, peanuts, sesame, onion, and lentil. Once these foods were removed, we saw minor improvements almost immediately (less eczema & other rashes), but major improvements after about 3 months (zero eczema, improved behaviors, less stimming, better socialization). You mentioned having tried the GFCF diet and then quitting it, but you didn't say for how long you tried it. Just so you know, in case testing shows a gluten/casein intolerance, the GFCF diet takes an average of 6-9 months of zero infractions and strict adherance before you may see results and it takes longer to see results the older the child is - up to 2 years in some cases. Also, if you didn't find all of the foods, colorings, flavorings, and other additives that the child is sensitive to, it would appear as if the diet was not helping. If you decide to try it again, make an effort to use foods as close to their natural state as possible and make all of your own baked goods and treats for a while so that you are aware of everything your child is eating. This way you can more easily pinpoint possible culprits. HTH I know many of you have kids with certain food allergies and intolerances.  Can any of you recommend the best tests to ask for and what specifically we should be looking for?   I really don't want to do the skin prick / lots of needles test if I don't have to.  The lab tech at our ped. office says they do a blood test to check for basic food allergies.  She also told me that a test for food allergy does not necessarily test for intolerances, is this true?  What kinds of testing have you guys had done.....and is there anyone out there who had the testing done and it came back that everything was o.k.? Ansley has never had food/eating issues in the past.  But recently she has quit drinking milk.  I don't want to make too much of it b/c my older NT dd did the same thing between 1 and 3 and then started drinking it again (skim only, though).  However, Ansley is starting to get SO picky about what she eats.  I know this is typical behavior between ages 2 and 5, but since she has autism I want to cover all my bases about food allergies.  I set up an appt. to talk with her ped. about all of it soon............but of course I highly value all of your opinions and words of wisdom from your own experiences! BTW, we tried the GFCF diet about 8 months ago but saw no changes so we went back to her regular diet.  Are there actual tests for glutein/casein intolerance?   We had both the Celiac and RAST testing, it was a simple blood test.  ....of course we don't have problems with needles ...so calling it 'simple' probably isn't the right word to use :(  Took about a week to get the results for us...and we did it through our GI office. ~LesleyKELLIE- i just took mason to the gi doctor last monday still waiting on the blood test results. she is testing him for celiac disease.i hope to know something soonWe got the skin test done on Luke, but he was only tested for allergies to wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, and yeast.  We already know he's allergic to peanuts.  However, I'm recently reading a book on Food Allergies and it said that the skin test isn't terribly accurate.  He did not test allergic to wheat, however, I'm beginning to wonder if Luke is sensitive to gluten be/c he still displays allergenic symptoms, despite his diet being 100% clear of dairy, yeast, eggs, and soy (those items to which he tested allergic).  We're debating taking him to a GI specialist to test for celiac disease and I'm thinking of trying a gluten-free diet ... may do so once I figure out how to incorporate non-gluten-type flours into our meals! Good luck with whatever you decide to do. My kiddos both had RAST tests done.  At that time, Zack was fine, but Sammy showed the highest rating of allergy for egg and a medium one for peanuts.  We avoided all peanut/tree nut products, and eggs for 1 1/2 LONG years.  I am RELIEVED to say she recently tested out of both allergies (repeated RAST test, levels had decreased so we had a food challenge test on both and she passed!)...YIPPEE!  I would have never been able to send her to preschool otherwise.  Zack also recently had a skin-prick test again and it showed no allergies.  FYI - they don't use needles to do a skin prick test...just plastic prongs on the back...applied for 2 seconds and then removed while you wait for a hive-like response.   I am definitely intrigued by the other test mentioned in the thread above.  I wish we had tested for gluten/casein since we follow the diet...but I read once you start the diet, you can't test for sensitivities since both triggers are not built up in the system like pre-diet levels.  In hindsite, I would have tested for it before starting the diet.  Now we are too scared to lose ground.  Good luck! Jessica ... UGH, they DID use needles on Luke (about 20 by the time the test was done).  That was 45 mins of sheer torture for the both of us.  Good luck with those results, Cyndie!  You know, if your son tests positive, I just may have Luke tested as well ... those loose poopies of his have to be coming from something! Kellie not a reply but more of a question.....does anyone else feel that some of the additives that the USDA allows in our foods have contributed to our childrens difficulties? Also I'm interested in everyones opinion about the vaccination issue(does that contribute?) thanks for any reply.Kellie - so not fair   Poor Luke.
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