Guest guest Posted June 9, 2000 Report Share Posted June 9, 2000 In a message dated 6/9/00 12:39:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time, rdmeyer@... writes: << My Ped. said that he wants to do the RAST test too. I guess I'd like to know what's so great about the RAST test??? >> This is from " Is This Your Child " RAST (Radioallergosorbent Test) -- A blood test. If this test is positive it indicates that a person is allergic to a particular substance tested, such as a specific food, mold, dust, pollen. The newer most affective way of testing is a P/N test (provocation neutralization test) -- This refers to a skin test that provokes a change in the skin test site/and or causes symptoms after a drop of the allergy extract is placed under the tongue or into the outer layers of the skin. The reactions confirms the person is allergic to the substance. After the reaction, a neutralizing solution is given to stop the reaction. She recommends RAST testing when doctors fear that the reaction to the P/N test may be too severe. She suggests in that case a RAST test followed by a P/N test (if the RAST test indicates that the reaction will not be too severe). The benefit of the P/N test is that it allows the doctor to observe the reaction. For instance, if someone gets a headache from a food, the P/N test will produce a headache. If a substance causes the person to be hyperactive, the P/N test will produce hyperactivity in the person. V In Awe of His Glory, Donalyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2000 Report Share Posted June 9, 2000 , My ped did the RAST test and showed no allergies - which is the biggest joke!! Not even to wheat or milk. , BTW gets excema and diahrea from about a dozen foods so I knew it had to be wrong. Eleanor-the metamatrix test showed most of his allergies but not all, either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2000 Report Share Posted June 9, 2000 > How did you determine that you would get the ELISA/ACT tests? What is the > difference from the RAST test? Where are you getting the tests analyzed? > > Elise Elise- Ian's RAST tests (IgE) were negative for all food allergies- true allergies. Ian's ELISA (IgG) were positive for delayed immune reaction to: milk (surprise!); cheese; egg; sugar cane; wheat (surprise, again!); and rice (truly a surprise!). I thought the ELISA was much more beneficial and helped us zero in on what Ian was really having trouble with. Amy in MI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2000 Report Share Posted June 9, 2000 Hi Elise, The RAST test is a blood test that tests for specific allergies. For example, with my Dan doc we tested for casein and gluten and then she asked what else he likes to eat or what else I 'thought' might be an issue. So then we specifically tested for corn, peanut butter, tomato, orange, and banana (things that struck me that he was eating a lot of.) It came back that he was allergic to ALL items tested (most profoundly high item was casein, tho - wickedly scary high.) One thing that does need to be noted about the RAST tho is something that I think Eleanor shared re her son . This is from 'Is This Your Child?': 'altho it can be very helpful, the RAST blood test does not always provide a reliable, accurate answer to help diagnose the cause of an allergic problem. When the test is positive, it probably indicates an allergy, but WHEN IT IS NEGATIVE (my cap's), it DOES NOT indicate an ABSENCE of allergy, but rather a 'maybe'. I could be wrong but I think that your doc or allergist can point you in the direction of a reputable lab for evaluating the RAST. Now the ELISA/ACT - as someone else mentioned, it tests for a delayed immune reaction which maybe what we are talking about with our kids. I have a feeling that BOTH are happening. Both a delayed and immediate response from the immune system. The good thing about the ELISA is that it tests for panels of things and will test something like 400 things inc foods, pollen, mold, dander, chemicals, etc. Our reason for doing it was that with the RAST, everything we specifically selected, he was allergic to. So okay, now what did we miss. I am hoping that the ELISA will show us what else are problem areas altho I have already figured out one or two - just by his reaction. This last test is evaluated thru Serammune Physician's Lab which I think is in VA. I have a toll free number for them somewhere if you want it. (One thing I liked about them is that THEY called my insurance company to see what was covered - that was a helpful time saver for me.) HTH, Ann ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 10, 2000 Report Share Posted June 10, 2000 > I have done ELISA test via Better Health USA for about 100 foods. I am very interested in your results from ELISA/ACT 400 item test. I have a feeling that these 100 foods thing did not cover everything. How much does ELISA/ACT cost? mt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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