Food sensitivities are becoming more and more common. These sensitivities can cause a variety of symptoms and are often correlated with chronic health conditions. Identifying trigger foods can help a patient tailor their diet and find relief from their symptoms and disease. However, trigger foods vary from person to person and can be difficult to identify without testing. One of the top food sensitivity tests is the 96 General Food Panel from US BioTek. This test analyzes reactivity to 96 foods and spices found in most diets to help patients identify which foods they should eliminate or limit.
The 96 General Food Panel from US BioTek measures reactivity to 96 foods and spices found in most diets. It can measure any combination of IgA, IgG, and IgG4 antibodies. By analyzing the strength of the antibody reaction to these different foods and spices, the 96 General Food Panel determines which foods a patient is sensitive to and how severe their sensitivity is. The results from this test can be used to help patients tailor their diet to eliminate or limit trigger foods.
The 96 General Food Panel is a beneficial test for anyone suspected of having food sensitivities. Patients with food sensitivities may be suffering from fatigue, headaches, nausea, or a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, including gas, bloating, or diarrhea. This panel can help patients determine the foods they should eliminate or limit in their diet. This panel does not determine food allergies; for that, a patient should order one of US BioTek’s IgE panels.
The 96 General Food Panel measures antibody reactivity to the antigens of 96 common foods and spices. Several different versions of the test can be ordered - single antibody (measuring only IgA, IgG, or IgG4 antibodies), two antibodies (measuring IgA & IgG, IgA & IgG4, or IgG & IgG4 antibodies), or three antibodies (measuring IgA, IgG, and IgG4). The report classifies reactivity as very low, low, medium, high, or very high so practitioners can understand the severity of a patient’s food sensitivities.Â
The 96 General Food Panel has two sample type options: serum and blood spot. A phlebotomist must collect this sample at a draw laboratory; it cannot be collected by the patient at home. The phlebotomist will handle the collection, preparation, and shipment of the sample to the laboratory.Â
Patients can collect blood spot samples at home. The patient will prick their finger with the provided lancet and collect their blood on the provided collection card. The test version (single antibody, two antibodies, or three antibodies) determines the number of blood spots needed. It is always good to collect one or two extra blood spots to ensure plenty of blood for analysis. The patient will ship the collection card back to the US BioTek laboratory for analysis.
Whether or not you can order a 96 General Food Panel from US BioTek depends on your ordering rights in your state. Most practitioners who are legally allowed to order lab tests in their state can order tests from US BioTek. If you have questions about your ability to order a 96 General Food Panel, please reach out to us via your Rupa Health portal or by emailing us at [email protected].Â
There are a variety of food sensitivity tests available on the market. In addition to the 96 General Food Panel, US BioTek offers tests for 96 foods commonly found in Asian, Japanese, Mexican, or Vegetarian diets. They also offer general food panels that measure reactions to up to 208 different foods. Vibrant Wellness, Alletess Medical Laboratory, and ELISA/ACT also all offer a variety of food sensitivity tests. You can order any of these tests through your Rupa Health portal.
