Re: Question about Allergy Testing

[Guest guest]

..`...the doctor says my son has

> allergic shiners, but he's not pushing for any allergy testing....

> What allergy tests are more accurate.... the skin prick or the

blood test. I understand the skin prick is for immediate reactions

and the blood test is for delayed reactions...l've used Great Plains

Lab in the past for stool exams and organic acid testing, are they

good for the allergy testing.... if anyone has done this test with

GPL did your insurance pay for it? "

There are two blood tests for food reactions. RAST (also called IgE,

I think) tests for the same reaction one gets from skin prick tests -

the immediate, histamine-type of reaction. The other is the ELISA

food panel (IgG). It can be done for any number of foods and

condiments. (My son's covered 94 items, and was well worth it.)

Both tests are useful as you can be positive for one type of

reaction, but negative for the other.

Our allergist/immunologist sent the blood tests to Metametrix Lab in

Georgia. I've seen GPL's IgG report and personally think Metametrix

covered more items for less money and provided a rotation diet plan.

Just my humble opinion.

Re your last question, there's a lot of info on hair analysis and

Doctors Data at autism-mercury (another egroup).