Allergies Archives - Page 5 of 11 - Lifelab Testing

Category: Allergies

How Do I Get A Food Allergy Test?

Posted on by Kate Young

By 2025, it’s thought that half the population of the EU could suffer from an allergy. All sorts of foods can cause an allergic reaction. Although nuts, gluten, seafood and lactose are some of the most common, it’s possible to be allergic to almost anything – with reactions ranging from mild to life-threatening.

If you’ve started responding badly to certain ingredients or meals, it’s crucial to get a reliable food allergy test. This will be able to tell you whether you’re allergic or intolerant and need to cut something out of your diet.

At Lifelab Testing, we offer a range of testing kits to help you make safer choices and take control of your life. In this post, we’ll be guiding you through the process of getting a food allergy test.

Basic allergy test

Do you suspect you’re allergic to a common allergen such as gluten or dairy? If you have a reaction shortly after eating and think you know what could be to blame, our basic allergy test is the one for you. This test analyses a small sample of your blood to check for 35 common food allergens, including a variety of different nuts, meat, milk, and eggs.

Nut Mix

When you order a basic allergy test from our site, you’ll receive your kit in 1-3 business days. The kit contains everything you need to take a safe and simple blood sample, package it securely, and send it (via freepost) to our certified lab.

Our scientists will get back to you in 7 days with your comprehensive results.

Complete body test

Our complete body test is a great choice if you’re unsure what’s causing your symptoms. Like our basic food allergy test, you’ll receive a sampling kit to send back to our testers in the lab. We’ll then analyse your blood against 40 different allergies and 80 intolerances.

How does a food allergy test work?

At Lifelab Testing, our food allergy tests work by analysing your blood using an in-vitro testing system known as ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). This enables our certified team to detect raised levels of antibodies, which your body produces in response to food antigens.

By checking for IgE and IgG4 antibodies, we can tell you whether you have an allergy or intolerance to a certain type of food. This means you can alter your diet with complete confidence that it’s the right decision for you.

Order your allergy test today

Allergic reactions can cause a wide range of problems from headaches and nausea to rashes, swelling, and stomach pain. If you’re battling symptoms and want to know what’s causing them for sure, order your food allergy test from Lifelab Testing today.

Why Blood Is Best for an Allergy Test

Posted on by Kate Young

More than 20% of people in the UK suffer from an allergy – and this figure is expected to rise. From coeliac disease to serious nut allergies, it’s vital to understand your sensitivities so you can avoid having a reaction. But how can you be sure which foods are setting off your allergies?

There are several different types of allergy test. Two of the most common are blood testing and hair tissue mineral analysis (hTMA). These procedures aim to analyse the content of the sample to diagnose allergies and other issues.

At Lifelab Testing, we only offer blood tests, as hTMA is not an accurate form of allergy test. In this blog post, we’ll be explaining why blood is always best for an allergy test.

How is blood used in an allergy test?

Your blood holds the key to your health. As part of an allergy test, blood can be analysed using an in-vitro testing system known as ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). This system is scientifically approved and is designed to test for antibodies in your blood.

ELISA testing can detect raised levels of both IgE and IgG4 antibodies.

What are IgE antibodies?

IgE stands for Immunoglobin E. This is a type of antibody that’s produced by your body’s immune system. If you suffer from an allergy, these antibodies will release chemicals known as histamines, which in turn cause you to have an allergic reaction.

What are IgG4 antibodies?

IgG4 is part of the Immunoglobin G subclass of antibodies. If you suspect you have a food intolerance, an allergy test will check the level of IgG4 antibodies in your blood. As they are released by the immune system as a response to food antigens, a raised level could indicate that your body is intolerant of certain food groups.

How is hair used in an allergy test?

By contrast, hair testing is not a scientifically approved method of diagnosing allergies. This test involves cutting a sample of hair close to your scalp and analysing its mineral makeup.

Although hair follicle testing is a medically accepted form of drugs testing, it cannot accurately detect antibodies.

Order your blood allergy test today

If you suspect you have an allergy, blood testing is the most reliable way to know for sure. Our certified team of scientists can give you comprehensive results or your money back. From complete peace of mind, order your allergy or intolerance test today.

Fact or Fiction: Can you cure an allergy?

Posted on by Donna Mastriani

At Lifelab Testing we want to make sure that our customers have the most recent knowledge in the field of scientific studies and the details of clinical trials are ongoing around the world, especially if they include information about a possible treatment to food allergies.

Today we want to update our readers/customers on a recent study (October 2020) from Evelina London Children’s Hospital published in the journal Lancet Child and Adolescent Health. The ARTEMIS study (Food Allergen Immunotherapy study) recruited nearly 200 children aged four to 17 from across Europe to take part in one of the largest peanut allergy treatment trials that had ever been conducted.

Participants either received peanut allergen protein (AR101) or a placebo powder. Doses were gradually increased every two weeks for a year. The results, which were recently published in the journalLancet Child and Adolescent Health, found that more than half of the participants (58%) treated with the peanut protein could tolerate at least 3 to 4 peanuts compared to just 2% of participants on the placebo.

This is an exciting discovery and is providing more evidence that ingesting small amounts of the triggered food (peanut protein), can increase tolerance and protect allergic people to develop serious allergic reactions (anaphylactic).

Lifelab Testing must highlight the fact that clinical trials are taken place only in research centres of clinics with extensive experience, under the supervision of trained medical personnel that can prevent and treat any serious allergic reactions that could be activated during the Food Allergen Immunotherapy as reported from the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

At the moment the Food Allergen Immunotherapy is used to raise the threshold of the allergen needed to trigger an allergic reaction, and not expected to be a cure for food allergies. However, it is exciting as with the growing research in the field the landscape of treatment, it could be very different in ten years.

Cut out the guesswork when it comes to the health of you and your family, and choose a Lifelab Testing kit delivered to your door now. With easy-to-use small vial blood extraction kits, you will get the results you need to change your lifestyle and your diet for the better. Take our quiz now to find the test for you.

Article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352464220302340

Evelina news: https://www.evelinalondon.nhs.uk/about-us/news-events/2020-news/20200910-tolerating-peanuts.aspx

Allergies & Science

Posted on by Donna Mastriani

Here at Lifelab we’re passionate about understanding the emerging science behind allergies and intolerances. We spend a lot of time developing our products using cutting edge science and also in providing aftercare to help you manage the allergies you discover.

We also like to help educate people on allergies and the science behind them, here we take a look at allergies and where our understanding is at.

WHAT IS AN ALLERGY AND WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS?

Food allergies have become a significant health burden as prevalence continues to rise, affecting 6%-13% of the global population.

When talking about Allergies, we are referring to the reaction that is caused when a person’s immune system is fighting what it perceives to be harmful substances (allergens) in the body.

The allergic reaction occurs when hypersensitivity to certain substances (food, medications, or environmental allergens) is expressed within the body. An allergic reaction is classified as type I hypersensitivity, meaning that symptoms will occur immediately after the administration of the harmful allergen or within a few minutes.

Our body is a powerful machine, and our immune system plays an essential role in defending the body from harmful substances. 

Some allergens are recognised as harmful from our immune system, and the immediate reaction is to find a way to eliminate those substances. The elimination of those harmful substances in allergic subjects will activate a specific reaction that in some people can be life-threatening (anaphylactic reaction: swelling, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and changes in heart rate).

Allergic symptoms are varied. Depending on the allergen, the type of allergic reaction (type I, type III) and the person’s immune system, different reactions can be observed. The hypersensitivity type I is associated with immediate allergic reaction with potential to activate an anaphylactic reaction. In contrast, hypersensitivity type III is associated with an accumulation of allergens in the systems with a delate allergy reaction that can be observed within 24 and 72hours after the administration of the harmful allergen.

Some common symptoms are itchiness, running nose, swollen and watery eyes, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, and vomiting.

ALLERGY TREATMENTS?

During the last two decades, (as reported by Vanhita Sampath et al. (1) in the Journal of Allergy 2019) there has been an increased understanding of the mechanisms underlying food allergy and new treatments have been developed. Numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Allergen ImmunoTherapy (AIT) for several allergens. Safety is the biggest concern for AIT, and risk of allergic reactions may potentially be lowered with lower allergen maintenance dose, and use of adjuvants (biologics such as omalizumab, modified aluminium hydroxide adsorbed allergens, or probiotics).

At the current time, there are no known biomarkers to distinguish the temporary state of desensitisation from that of permanent tolerance as seen in natural nonallergenic individuals nor are there prognostic markers to determine who would best benefit from therapy. Such diagnostic and prognostic marker would be valuable tools for food allergy research (Vanhita Sampath et al.)

Recently another article from Kunal Pratap et al. (2) in the journal of Frontiers in Immunology in May 2020 highlighted the possibility to use a combination of probiotics and allergen immunotherapy as a treatment for food allergies:

“A combinatorial approach using probiotics and oral peanut immunotherapy has successfully demonstrated long-lasting clinical effects and suppression of allergic responses. Such innovative strategies combining allergen-specific immunotherapy with natural bioactive compounds into a suitable dosage regimen may hold the potential to have a safe and effective treatment strategy for food allergies (Kunal Pratap et al.).

Scientific advancement in the field of food allergy in the last couple of years as demonstrated as a combination of allergen immunotherapy and bioactive compounds (probiotics) could be a possible solution in the treatment of food allergies. 

Unfortunately, at the moment we do not have a treatment for food allergies, but we are confident that continuing our work to inform you with up to date scientific research and our high-quality testing we can help you to take the first step to improve your health and wellbeing.

This is only the first step on your journey, and we are here to help you, so if you have any questions and you are curious to know how we can help do not hesitate to contact us.

References

(1)https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.14116 (Vanhita Sampath et al.) Can allergy be cured?

(2)https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.00996/full (Kunal Pratap et al.) Natural Bioactive compounds and probiotics as potential therapeutic in food allergies

What does ‘Meat’ mean in my allergy test results?

Posted on by Kate Young

We receive a lot of questions regarding ‘meat’ in our customers’ test results.

Does this include all meat? What about fish? Or Poultry?

So today we’re clearing up the confusion with an article explaining exactly what we mean by ‘meat’ in your test results.

Scientific Reasoning

Since allergic reactions are almost exclusively caused by the proteins found in an allergen, and different meats share several common factors within their proteins, we test and report them as one single item. Because of these common factors, there is a lot of cross-reactivity across differing meats. For example, someone who reacts severely to chicken may also react to turkey, but to a lesser degree (or vice versa). Hence, it would be of little benefit to our customers if we analyzed these meats separately, rather than all together.

About Allergies

First, it’s important to remember that an allergy is (almost exclusively) a reaction to the proteins in a certain food [1]. These proteins are perceived as a threat by the body, and an allergic reaction occurs. Without the proteins, there would be nothing to react to.


This allergic reaction is known as an IgE-mediated response because the body creates IgE (immunoglobulin E) antibodies [2] to defend the body against this perceived threat.

An IgE mediated allergic reaction can cause a variety of symptoms. Most commonly;

  • Itchy, red, and watery eyes
  • Swollen mouth, lips, eyes, face, or throat
  • sneezing and a runny or blocked nose
  • Wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath
  • Itchy, red rash (may be raised)
  • Vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhoea
  • Anaphylaxis

Our Blood Sample Allergy Testing

At Lifelab Testing, we analyse all samples against a panel of commonly known allergens. In an allergic sample, we can observe a reaction against certain proteins from those allergens.

Since chicken, turkey, beef, pork and lamb are all mostly composed of muscle tissue, their composition is all very similar to each other. These meats all share common factors such as epitopes and enzymes, meaning that the reactions are all quite similar.

Epitopes

An epitope is a specific part of an antigen (the ‘invading bad guy’) that interacts with your antibodies [3]. Your antibodies will attach themselves to these epitopes in their attack against an allergen.

Enzymes

Enzymes are biological molecules that act as catalysts. They significantly speed up the rate of pretty much all chemical reactions that take place within a cell. They’re vital to life and are used in various processes in the body, such as digestion and metabolism.

These similarities between proteins cause a lot of ‘cross-reactivity’ between different meats. Cross-reactivity, in this instance, means that an individual may find themselves allergic to two or more of the same things. So, for example, someone might react rather badly to beef and also react to pork, but to a lesser degree (or vice versa).

Because of these similarities between meats, and a heightened chance of cross-reactivity, we decided that it would be best for our Lifelab customers to have their samples tested against meat as a whole, rather than splitting up the analysis into different types of meat. There would be little benefit in splitting up meat into different categories if they are all likely to report similarly. This also leaves room in the test for other food items, allowing for a more diverse range of foods to analyse.

Make sure you get plenty of omega-3 into your body

Why doesn’t ‘Meat’ include fish?

We test for fish allergies separately because of how vastly different the proteins are from each other. In fact, you may notice that we test different types of fish separately. This is due to the difference in proteins between the species.

Final words

Reporting your results in this way makes the proceeding elimination diet simpler to follow and, from our experience, improves adherence to the elimination diet as well. All in all, it makes working towards a healthier, more tailored diet, easier and more straightforward.

References

[1] Nih.gov. (2017). Allergies: Overview. [online] Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK447112/ [Accessed 6 Mar. 2020].

[2] Justiz, A.A. and Kamleshun Ramphul (2020). Immunoglobulin. [online] Nih.gov. Available at:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513460/ [Accessed 5 Mar. 2020].

[3] Liang, T.C. (1998). Epitopes. Encyclopedia of Immunology, [online] pp.825–827. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B0122267656002292 [Accessed 23 Mar. 2020].

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Can Your Pets Have Food Allergies, Too?

Posted on by Kate Young

Just like humans, your pets can suffer food intolerances and allergies. Food allergies in pets are common. At least 10% of dogs are allergic to some kinds of foods; the percentage in cats living with allergies is not known. Apart from food allergies, many pets are intolerant to specific foods. They tend to have a very sensitive digestive system that reacts frequently. 

Food allergy vs food intolerance in pets

An animal is said to suffer food allergies when its immune system reacts defensively to a particular food. Usually, the pet’s immune system mistakes the food for a harmful substance. The symptoms of food allergies differ, but typically, they include licking and scratching, as well as hives and rashes. Nausea and vomiting may also occur in some pets.

In instances of food intolerance, only the pet’s digestive system is involved. The immune system does not react. Instead, the animal’s digestive system reacts strongly to the food. Common symptoms of food intolerance in pets include bloating, severe gas, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

What triggers food allergies and intolerances in pets?

The most likely answer is genetics. Pets that suffer food allergies and intolerances have a somewhat dysfunctional immune or digestive system that mistakes some food ingredients for something harmful. Because the leading cause is genetics, when looking for a pet, you could ask the breeder if the animal has intolerances or allergies in its bloodlines. Certain breeds like rex cats or retrievers are prone to food allergies or intolerances.

What can you do if your pet is allergic or intolerant to food?

Certainly, both defects will not go away. To relieve the symptoms, you have to exclude the allergen from your pet’s diet. But it’s not easy identifying the exact allergen. The recommended procedure is the “elimination diet” technique in which you take out every potential allergen from your pet’s diet for six weeks. With this, all typical symptoms should dissipate. When this happens, you can then re-introduce the potential allergens one after the other, and as soon as any symptom of allergy shows up, you know the offending ingredient. You can then re-introduce other ingredients while eliminating the allergen from your pet’s diet. 

Common food allergies in pets

Cats are mostly affected by wheat, corn, chicken, & soya.

Dogs, on the other hand, are mostly affected by wheat, chicken, rabbit, beef, pork, soy, corn, and diaries.  

dog food allergies

Hypoallergenic foods

If you look closely, you’ll see “hypoallergenic” marked on some pet products. What this means is that the product:

  • Contains just the essentials, and so, the number of ingredients is limited.
  • Common sources of allergens are excluded

LifeLab has a range of tests that can test against at least 160 potential food and non-food allergens, but unfortunately, we don’t test pets (yet!).

Peanut allergy treatment approved by FDA

Posted on by Kate Young

There’s been a game changing development in the world of allergies. In the end of January, FDA approved a revolutionary new kind of peanut allergy treatment for children and adolescents called Palforzia. The approval comes following a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with roughly 500 participants.

The new allergy treatment brings a sigh of relief to many parents of children who live in fear that should their child accidentally consume the slightest bit of peanut; they’ll be in for a long visit to A&E.

The new treatment is a powder made from peanuts to be taken orally. It comes in colour-coded capsules up until the maintenance phase, when it comes in sachets. The powder can be taken with applesauce or yoghurt for convenience, so long as it doesn’t dissolve in what it’s mixed with.

How does the treatment work?

The treatment is labelled a kind of ‘oral immunotherapy’. The idea behind it is quite simple really, involving carefully administering tiny amounts of the allergen and increasing dosage over time (taken orally). Thus, slowly allow the body to become used to the allergen and hopefully cause less of a reaction should the patient accidentally consume a small amount of peanut.

The first stage is administered under doctor supervision.  This has been coined the ‘initial dose escalation phase’ and is consumed in a single day. The second stage of the treatment consists of 11 dosage increases over several months. Again, the first dose of each up-dosing level is administered under medical supervision, in case of any severe reactions. This is a precautious measure due to the potential for allergic reactions, even anaphylaxis, to occur.

The third and final stage is maintenance, with the drug then taken daily. It must be maintained in order for the treatment to be effective. Should the patient stop taking it, the benefits of immunotherapy are unlikely to persist.

How dangerous is this new allergy treatment?

The new drug is approved on the condition that all doctors administering the drug and those taking it undergo training in a special safety program to minimise the risk, should an adverse reaction occur during treatment.

There is the risk of an allergic reaction at each increased dosage, which is why they first of each increase is taken under medical supervision. There are certainly risks with this new form of treatment, a small number of participants in the study suffered anaphylaxis from an increased dosage, so parents will have to weigh the pros and cons, and determine if this treatment is suitable or not.

Allergy Testing for Dust Mites?

Posted on by Donna Mastriani

It’s not unusual for a dusty room to cause a few sneezes here and there. But when those few sneezes turn into constant sneezing, watering eyes and congestion, there might be something more serious going on. If this sounds familiar, you might have an unknown house dust mite allergy.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of a dust mite allergy will usually occur promptly after exposure to dust mites, although they can take up to 2 hours in rarer cases. The most common symptoms of a dust mite allergy include sneezing, watery eyes, congestion and a runny nose, tightness of chest and potentially difficulty breathing. Different people will experience differing severities of symptoms, and severity can also differ between reactions.

This allergen can also cause a flare-up of asthma, if you suffer from allergic asthma. an estimated 64% of people living with asthma find that house dust mites trigger their asthma symptoms.

Can allergy testing identify a dust mite allergy?

The good news is allergy testing for dust mites is available. Both our Basic allergy test and complete body test include testing for house dust mites, and many other allergy testing methods are capable of testing for this allergen.

How do I minimise these symptoms?

There’s no way to guarantee complete avoidance of dust mites, but you can minimise your chances of an allergic reaction through a few basic actions;

  • 60-degree washes – to kill off any mites
  • Opting for hard wood flooring over carpets
  • Regular vacuuming
  • Air conditioning or opening windows to allow airflow
  • Air filters and purifiers
  • Freezing and then washing soft toys

Is a dust mite allergy life-threatening?

As with any allergy, a dust mite allergy has the potential to be life threatening. The most dangerous symptom being anaphylaxis (also known as anaphylactic shock). The good news is that if an allergy is present, there are many medical treatments and lifestyle alterations you can make to minimise your risk of a reaction.

But the first order of business must be allergy testing, to make certain that your symptoms are being caused by an allergy and not another undiagnosed condition.

Tree nut allergies could lead to vitamin deficiencies!

Posted on by Donna Mastriani

Tree nut allergies are one of the most common kinds of allergies. They tend to be persistent and its rare for people to grow out of this allergy, especially after the age of 5. Learning to avoid tree nuts is the first hurdle in being diagnosed with a tree nut allergy, but there’s a secondary challenge after that – ensuring your diet remains balanced without tree nuts.

Because nuts are highly nutritious, having an allergy to them means missing out on a whole host of nutritious snacks. It’s important to make sure you still get enough of those vital nutrients that are abundant in nuts.

Common Vitamins and Minerals Found in Tree Nuts

Omega 3’s

Omega 3 is an essential polyunsaturated fat that your body cannot produce on its own. This means it has to be consumed through the diet. They’re found in many tree nuts, seeds and fish.

There’s also evidence suggesting that consuming more omega 3’s can help fight against anxiety and depression. Studies have shown that people who regularly eat foods containing omega 3’s are less likely to develop depression. One study even saw EPA (one of the 3 types of Omega 3’s) to be just as effective as a prescribed antidepressant drug.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is probably the one vitamin you’re least likely to become deficient in, because it is present in the vast majority of foods, although in small amounts. Vitamin E is best known for contributing to skin health and reducing oxidative stress. Birth wat many don’t realise is that it’s also vital in most of your bodies daily processes, as all of our cells use it to interact with one another.

Tree nuts are an excellent source of vitamin E, but the nutrient Is still present in many other foods. Those most abundant in vitamin E include sunflower seeds, goose meat, avocado, mango and kiwi.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a proven aid in fighting depression and type 2 diabetes as well as being essential for optimal bone health and keeping blood pressure low. Low magnesium intake has also been associated with chronic inflammation, so it’s all the more important to prioritise this nutrient.

Luckily tree nuts aren’t the only source of magnesium. You can get plenty of magnesium through eating mackerel, spinach, dark chocolate (>70% cocoa solids), quinoa and pumpkin seeds.

If you still struggle to get your daily recommended intake of magnesium, you can reach your daily requirement with magnesium supplements, which are available in various forms. Be sure to consult your doctor before taking any supplements.

Having a tree nut allergy doesn’t mean you’re doomed to develop deficiencies. If you plan your food appropriately and ensure you get plenty of the above nutrients, you’ll be in tip top shape. If you’re unsure whether you are allergic or intolerant to any of the suggested alternatives, we can help you identify any problem foods through an intolerance and allergy test. It’s always best to be safe rather than sorry.

Allergy Testing Before Giving up Your New Diet

Posted on by Donna Mastriani

So you’re a couple of weeks into your “New Year, New Me” quest and, frankly, the only thing new is the constant state of exasperation at the fact your new diet appears to be doing absolutely nothing. Your goal dress you bought to wear to that wedding you’re dieting for still clings stubbornly around your stomach. What is the point, might as well grab the ice cream, stick some loungewear on and ignore the world outside. PUT DOWN THAT MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP. We have the answer;

Intolerance & Allergy testing.

That’s right, the food you’re eating IS the problem but NOT in the way you think. Bloating is an incredibly common side effect of a food intolerance or allergy and, when you’re looking to lose a few pounds around the stomach, it can be the difference between sticking to and giving up on your new diet.

New Food, New Problems.

When you started your new diet, you have probably introduced a lot of new foods that you either haven’t eaten a lot of or may even never have ever eaten before. So as you have been losing body fat, your food intolerance has been masking your progress by filling your stomach with gas. Incredibly annoying but intolerance and allergy testing is your salvation here.

How Does Bloating Work?

Bloating occurs when you eat a food to which you’re intolerant. When you have an intolerance, your body doesn’t produce enough enzymes to break down the problem food, and so bacteria does the job instead. The problem being that when they do so, they create an excessive amount of gas which becomes trapped in the stomach. As a result, the stomach expands, leaving you with that bloated feeling. It’s time to take action and identify the food that is irritating your gut and keeping you out of that body goals dress.

Intolerance and allergy testing is available to suit all budgets on our website.