How Can Genova’s Immune Profile help you?
Did you know that the most common foods known to trigger reactions include wheat/gluten, milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts, soy, and shellfish? However, removing all of these foods may not be necessary. Testing can help pinpoint which foods are causing the reaction.
Eliminating specific reactive foods can improve your symptoms.
Knowing which foods may be a problem can help you and your clinician build the best diet for you rather than following fad diets or restricting foods unnecessarily.
Genova offers an all-in-one test to provide a full picture of your immune system response.
Every food test comes with a personalized summary of reactive foods. This can help your clinician develop a tailored food plan specific to your needs and symptoms.
What is the Immune Profile?
The IgG Food Antibody Panel can be ordered as a stand-alone test or bundled with other profiles. Often times, clinicians will bundle several smaller profiles in order to see a more complete picture of the patient's immune-mediated response. Profiles that can be bundled include:
- IgG Foods: 87 foods
- IgG Vegetarian: 21 foods
- IgG Spices: 24 spices
- IgE Foods: 19 foods
- IgE Molds: 15 molds
- IgE Inhalants: 16 inhalants specific to 18 North American geographic regions
- Celiac and Gluten Sensitivity - Total IgA, tTG IgA, DGP IgA, EMA IgA, Anti-Gliadin IgG and IgA-
*All IgE and IgG reports include the total of IgE
1. IgG Food Antibody Assessment
This is a blood test that measures antibodies to 87 commonly consumed foods. The panel also includes a total IgE measurement. The body can react to foods in many different ways. Adverse food reactions can lead to distressing symptoms and chronic health conditions. Often times it is unknown exactly which food(s) may be the cause and testing can help identify the problematic foods. Removal of the reactive foods often results in resolution of symptoms..
2. IgG Vegetarian Food Profile
This is a blood test that measures antibodies to 21 vegetarian foods. The panel also includes a total IgE measurement. The body can react to foods in many different ways. Adverse food reactions can lead to distressing symptoms and chronic health conditions. Often times it is unknown exactly which food(s) may be the cause and testing can help identify the problematic foods. Removal of the reactive foods often results in resolution of symptoms. Note: this test is not available in NY state.
3. IgG Spice Profile
The IgG Spice Profile is a blood test that measures antibodies to 24 culinary herbs and spices. The profile also includes a total IgE measurement. The body can react to foods in many different ways. Adverse food reactions can lead to distressing symptoms and chronic health conditions. Often times it is unknown exactly which food(s) may be the cause and testing can help identify the problematic foods. Removal of the reactive foods often results in resolution of symptoms. Note: this test is not available in NY state.
4. IgE Food Antibody Assessment
The IgE Food Antibody Assessment is a blood test that measures IgE antibodies to 19 of the most allergenic foods. The panel also includes a total IgE measurement. The body can react to foods in many different ways. The prevalence of food allergies in Western countries is rising, with up to 10% of the population affected. This trend likely involves a complex interplay between genetic, epigenetic, and environmental risk factors.
5. IgE Mold Profile
This is a blood test that measures IgE antibodies to 15 common indoor and outdoor molds. The panel also includes a total IgE measurement. Everyone breathes in airborne mold spores, and in people with mold allergies, symptoms mainly affect the respiratory tract. Testing for mold allergies can identify whether mold is causing the symptoms. The patient can experience relief with symptom management, and by avoiding ongoing exposure to the mold source.
6. IgE Inhalants Profile
The IgE Inhalants Profile is a blood test that measures IgE antibodies to 16 common indoor and outdoor inhalants specific to 18 North American geographic regions. The profile also includes a total IgE measurement. Testing can help identify whether an allergen is triggering the common symptoms associated with seasonal, pet or mite allergies. These symptoms include sneezing, coughing, itchy and watery eyes, and others. The patient can experience relief with symptom management, and by avoiding ongoing exposure to the identified allergen.
7. Celiac and Gluten Sensitivity test
This test is a blood test that measures important markers to aid in the diagnosis of CD including Total IgA, Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase IgA (tTG IgA), Anti-Deamidated Gliadin IgA (DGP IgA), and reflex Anti-Endomysial IgA (EMA IgA). Gluten sensitivity is assessed via Anti-Gliadin IgA and Anti-Gliadin IgG. Along with these results, Genova`s unique report configuration provides a simple diagnostic algorithm to aid clinicians in assessing likelihood of disease.
What's the difference between IgE and IgG-mediated reactions?
The key differences between IgE allergies and IgG sensitivities are summarized below:
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IgE-Mediated Allergies (Foods, molds, inhalants)
- Immediate onset (minutes to hours)
- Circulating half-life of 1-2 days
- Permanent allergies
- Stimulates histamine release
- Hives, stuffy or itchy nose, sneezing, itchy, teary eyes, vomiting, stomach cramps or diarrhea, angioedema or swelling, shortness of breath or wheezing, and anaphylaxis
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IgG-Mediated Sensitivities (Foods, spices, vegetarian foods)
- Delayed onset (hours to days)
- Circulating half-life of 21 days
- Temporary sensitivities
- Activates complement
- Does not stimulate histamine release
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, headaches, joint aches, rashes, and other vague symptoms
When should testing for IgG Food Antibodies be considered?
Testing for adverse food reactions is useful for individuals who suspect that a food is responsible for causing their symptoms, but can't quite identify which food(s). The presence of circulating antibodies may affect each patient differently. Circulating IgG food antibodies are not diagnostic for a specific condition, but indicate an immune response to that food. The immune response could be a normal response that would not necessarily cause symptoms. Therefore, test results should always be viewed in the context of the overall clinical picture. The role of IgG food antibody testing is still being researched, however, studies have shown the benefit of testing in certain conditions.
Conditions associated with IgG food sensitivity
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Migraine headaches
- Skin rashes such as eczema
- Joint aches
- Autoimmune disease
- Crohn's Disease
- Obesity
When should testing for Celiac and Gluten Sensitivity be considered?
Celiac disease is defined as an autoimmune enteropathy of the small intestine, caused by exposure to dietary gluten in genetically pre-disposed individuals. In susceptible individuals, gluten ingestion generates an inflammatory reaction predominantly centered in the upper parts of the small intestine. This mucosal injury will eventually reduce the intestinal absorptive area and interfere with uptake of micronutrients.
Conditions and symptoms associated with Celiac disease
- Chronic diarrhea with weight loss
- Steatorrhea
- Postprandial abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Malabsorption with nutrient deficiencies (iron, B12, calcium)
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Elevated liver enzymes
- Cerebellar ataxia
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Type I Diabetes
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Autoimmune thyroiditis
- Infertility
- Dermatitis herpetiformis
- Sjogren syndrome
- Addison's disease
- Parathyroid disorders
- Growth hormone deficiency
- Primary biliary cirrhosis
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is defined as gastrointestinal symptoms and extra-intestinal symptoms that are triggered by gluten consumption, in the absence of Celiac-specific antibodies and villous atrophy, as well as any allergy-related processes. Findings from the clinical history, symptoms, serologic and histologic tests are required in order to reach an accurate diagnosis.1 A diagnosis of NCGS cannot be made until wheat allergy and CD have been eliminated.6 Clinicians may consider adding the IgE Food Antibody test that includes the IgE wheat biomarker for wheat allergy. The diagnosis of NCGS is confirmed by a food provocation test. The only known antibodies observed in NCGS patients are anti-gliadin antibodies which occur in only half of the patients.
IgG Food Antibodies Analytes
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- Alfalfa - IgG
- Almond - IgG
- Apple - IgG
- Apricot - IgG
- Asparagus - IgG
- Avocado - IgG
- Banana - IgG
- Beef - IgG
- Beet - IgG
- Blueberry - IgG
- Broccoli - IgG
- Buckwheat - IgG
- Cabbage - IgG
- Cane Sugar - IgG
- Carrot - IgG
- Casein - IgG
- Celery - IgG
- Cheddar cheese - IgG
- Chicken - IgG
- Chocolate - IgG
- Clam - IgG
- Cod - IgG
-
- Coffee - IgG
- Corn - IgG
- Corn Gluten - IgG
- Cottage cheese - IgG
- Cow's milk - IgG
- Crab - IgG
- Cranberry - IgG
- Cucumber - IgG
- Egg white - IgG
- Egg yolk - IgG
- Garlic - IgG
- Gluten - IgG
- Goat's milk - IgG
- Grape - IgG
- Grapefruit - IgG
- Green (string) Bean - IgG
- Green Pepper - IgG
- Kidney Bean - IgG
- Lactalbumin - IgG
- Lamb - IgG
- Lemon - IgG
- Lentil - IgG
-
- Lettuce - IgG
- Lima Bean - IgG
- Lobster - IgG
- Mushroom - IgG
- Oat - IgG
- Olive - IgG
- Onion - IgG
- Orange - IgG
- Oyster - IgG
- Papaya - IgG
- Pea - IgG
- Peach - IgG
- Peanut - IgG
- Pear - IgG
- Pecan - IgG
- Pineapple - IgG
- Pinto Bean - IgG
- Plum - IgG
- Pork - IgG
- Potato, sweet - IgG
- Potato, white - IgG
- Raspberry - IgG
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- Red Snapper - IgG
- Rice - IgG
- Rye - IgG
- Salmon - IgG
- Sardine - IgG
- Sesame - IgG
- Shrimp - IgG
- Sole - IgG
- Soy - IgG
- Spinach - IgG
- Strawberry - IgG
- Sunflower seed - IgG
- Tomato - IgG
- Total IgE
- Trout - IgG
- Tuna - IgG
- Turkey - IgG
- Walnut - IgG
- Wheat - IgG
- Yeast - IgG
- Yogurt - IgG
- Zucchini - IgG
IgG Vegetarian Food Profile Analytes
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- Artichoke - IgG
- Bean Sprout - IgG
- Canataloupe - IgG
- Cashew - IgG
- Cherry - IgG
- Coconut - lgG
- Filbert - IgG
- Flax Seed - IgG
- Garbanzo - IgG
- Kamut - IgG
- Millet - IgG
-
- Mung Bean - IgG
- Navy Bean - IgG
- Oat Bran - IgG
- Parmesan Cheese - IgG
- Pistachio - IgG
- Safflower - IgG
- Total IgE
- Triticale - IgG
- Watermelon - IgG
- Wheat Bran - IgG
- Wild Rice - IgG
IgG Herbs & Spices Profile Analytes
-
- Allspice - IgG
- Basil - IgG
- Bay leaf - IgG
- Black Pepper - IgG
- Cayenne Pepper - IgG
- Cinnamon - IgG
- Cloves - IgG
- Cumin - IgG
- Curry - IgG
- Dill - IgG
- Fennel seed - IgG
- Ginger - IgG
- Horseradish - IgG
-
- Marjoram - IgG
- Mustard - IgG
- Nutmeg - IgG
- Oregano - IgG
- Paprika - IgG
- Parsley - IgG
- Peppermint - IgG
- Rosemary - IgG
- Sage - IgG
- Thyme - IgG
- Total IgE
- Vanilla – IgG
IgE Food Antibodies Analytes
-
- Almond - IgE
- Blue Mussel - IgE
- Brazil Nut - IgE
- Buckwheat - IgE
- Coconut - IgE
- Cod - IgE
- Corn - IgE
- Cow`s Milk - IgE
- Egg White - IgE
- Hazelnut - IgE
-
- Oat - IgE
- Peanut - IgE
- Rice - IgE
- Salmon - IgE
- Sesame - IgE
- Shrimp - IgE
- Soy - IgE
- Total IgE
- Tuna - IgE
- Wheat - IgE
IgE Mold Analytes
-
- Alternaria tenuis - IgE
- Aspergillus fumigatus - IgE
- Candida albicans - IgE
- Cladosporium herbarum - IgE
- Curvularia lunata - IgE
- Epiccoccum purpurascens - IgE
- Fusarium moniliforme - IgE
- Helminthosporium halodes - IgE
-
- Mucor racemosus - IgE
- Penicillium notatum - IgE
- Phoma betae - IgE
- Pityrosporum orbiculare - IgE
- Rhizopus nigricans - IgE
- Stemphylium botryosum - IgE
- Total IgE
- Trichoderma viride – IgE
IgE Inhalants Analytes
-
- Alder Tree- IgE
- Australian Pine Tree- IgE
- Bahia Grass- IgE
- Bermuda Grass- IgE
- Birch Tree- IgE
- Brome Grass- IgE
- Canary Grass- IgE
- Cat dander- IgE
- Cocklebur- IgE
- Cockroach- IgE
- Common Ragweed- IgE
- Cottonwood Tree- IgE
- Cultivated Oat Grass- IgE
- Dandelion- IgE
- Dog dander- IgE
-
- Elm Tree- IgE
- English Plantain- IgE
- Eucalyptus Tree- IgE
- Giant Ragweed- IgE
- Johnson Grass- IgE
- June Grass (Kentucky Blue)- IgE
- Lamb`s quarters- IgE
- Maple Tree- IgE
- Mesquite Tree- IgE
- Mite Generic- IgE
- Mold Generic- IgE
- Mountain Cedar Tree- IgE
- Nettle- IgE
- Oak Tree- IgE
- Olive Tree- IgE
-
- Orchard Grass- IgE
- Pecan Tree- IgE
- Perennial Rye Grass- IgE
- Red Top- IgE
- Rough Marsh Elder- IgE
- Rough Pigweed- IgE
- Russian Thistle- IgE
- Scale- IgE
- Sweet Vernal Grass- IgE
- Timothy Grass- IgE
- Total IgE
- Walnut Tree- IgE
- Western Ragweed- IgE
- White Mulberry Tree- IgE
Celiac & Gluten Sensitivity Analytes
-
- Anti-Deamidated Gliadin IgA (DGP IgA)
- Anti-Gliadin IgA
- Anti-Gliadin IgG
-
- Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase IgA
- EMA IgA (reflex Only)
- Total IgA
What advantage does the IgG Food Antibody test offer compared to other diagnostics?
IgG food antibodies can result in a delayed response to a food.1 Whereas IgE antibodies can result in immediate-hypersensitivity to a substance. It is generally easier for patients and clinicians to identify a food that causes an immediate response. A delayed-response to food may be more challenging to determine, and testing can be helpful. The IgG Food Antibody test assesses total IgG (1-4) versus only testing for IgG4. This offers a more complete assessment, however, IgG4 testing is available for clinicians interested in that specific component of IgG.
The body of scientific evidence continues to build regarding correlation with clinical symptoms and conditions for IgG testing (see conditions above). Furthermore, a study comparing methodologies showed that "IgG ELISA testing is more reliable and consistent than cell size testing for identifying food sensitivities."21 Examples of cell size testing or cytotoxic testing include mediator release testing (MRT), antigen leukocyte antibody testing (ALCAT) and lymphocyte response assays.
Other types of adverse food reactions that are not mediated by the immune system are referred to as food intolerances. Food intolerances include lactose intolerance due to lactase enzyme deficiency in the gut; testing is available for suspected lactose intolerance. Testing is not available for all food intolerances. These include vasoactive amines like histamine and tyramine, food additives and preservatives (nitrites, sulfites, MSG, aspartame), salicylates, nightshades, lectins, FODMAPs, oxalates, etc. Since testing is not available for every type of adverse food reaction, the elimination/rechallenge diet remains the gold standard for identification of symptom-producing foods.
What advantage does the IgE Food Antibody test offer compared to other diagnostics?
An IgE allergic response involves immediate-hypersensitivity to a substance. It is generally easier for patients and clinicians to identify a food that causes an immediate response, although not always, and testing serum IgE antibodies can be helpful.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) guidelines state that a combination of medical history, physical examination, and oral food challenge can assist in the diagnosis of food allergy, with the oral food challenge being the gold standard. In some instances, an oral food challenge may be dangerous for the patient and other tools may be helpful.
A skin-prick test involves the injection of an allergen on the skin then observation for a reaction. This method has low specificity and low positive predictive value, and the injection of a substance that can potentially cause a serious reaction should be monitored closely. Serum testing can be especially useful when skin-prick tests cannot be performed (for example, due to extensive dermatitis or dermatographism), or when antihistamines cannot be discontinued.
Allergen-specific serum IgE testing does not involve introducing an allergen in order to test. Instead, already circulating antibodies are measured, however, the patient must have been exposed to the allergen in the days leading up to testing in order to detect antibodies. The NIAID suggests, "sIgE tests are useful for identifying foods potentially provoking IgE-mediated food-induced allergic reactions and specified "cutoff" levels, defined as 95% predictive values, may be more predictive than skin prick tests of clinical reactivity in certain populations, but when used alone they are not diagnostic of food allergy."
What advantage does the Celiac and Gluten sensitivity test offer compared to other diagnostics?
Intestinal biopsy is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of Celiac disease. International guidelines suggest that measuring immunologic analytes and genetic markers are favored to increase detection of CD. The European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) introduced a revised guideline for CD in children based on the optimization of antibody assays. According to this guideline, children can be diagnosed with CD without a duodenal biopsy when presenting with suspicious symptoms, a strongly elevated tTG-IgA (>10 confirmed cut-off value), confirmed by a positive EMA-IgA on a separate occasion, and positive genetic testing (HLA-DQ2 and /or HLA-DQ8). Genova does not offer the HLA-DQ2/DQ8 genetic markers.
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What can clinicians and patients expect from IgG Food Antibody testing?
In general, clinical management of the patient with food sensitivities involves elimination or rotation of the highly reactive food(s). Often times, clinicians and patients notice improvement of symptoms after diet modification. Patients may be able to tolerate the food in small amounts, without symptoms, after several weeks or months of elimination. Increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut) may simultaneously be addressed with diet, botanicals, and nutraceuticals, as well as modifying the contributing factors.
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What can clinicians and patients expect from IgE Food Antibody testing?
In general, clinical management of the patient with food allergies involves the elimination of offending food(s). Modifiable risk factors (see above) may simultaneously be addressed with diet, botanicals, nutraceuticals, and lifestyle changes.
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What can clinicians and patients expect from Celiac and Gluten Sensitivity testing?
Clinical management of the patient with Celiac disease involves strict, lifelong elimination of gluten. Patients with gluten sensitivity may be able to tolerate small amounts of gluten over time after an initial period of elimination.
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What can clinicians and patients expect from IgE Mold testing?
In general, clinical management of the patient with mold allergies involves medicines, allergy shots and/or supplements to manage symptoms, as well as cleaning and preventing further mold growth and exposure in the household. HEPA filters, exhaust fans, dehumidifiers, regular cleaning practices, and fixing water leaks may help to reduce the mold burden.
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What can clinicians and patients expect from IgE Inhalant testing?
In general, clinical management of the patient with inhalant allergies involves medicines, allergy shots and/or supplements to manage symptoms, as well as cleaning and preventing further exposure to the identified allergen in the household. HEPA filters and regular cleaning practices may help to reduce the allergen burden
Immune Profile Costs
Full Immune profile (IgE Food + IgG Food + IgG Vegetarian + IgE Inhalants + IgE Molds + IgG Spices + Celiac and Gluten Sens): $594*
Individual panels: $185 per panel
Build your own panel:
1st panel: $185. For every additional panel:
- IgE Food Antibodies: $119
- IgE Molds (serum): $119
- IgE Inhalants (serum): $119
- IgG Spices (serum): $119
- IgG Vegetarian (serum): $119
*Price includes 60-min nutrition interpretation consultation
Note: Not available for NY state
Please call if you want to build your own panel combo.
Sample Report
Collection Instructions
References
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- Davison G, Marchbank T. Zinc carnosine works with bovine colostrum in truncating heavy exercise-induced increase in gut permeability in healthy volunteers. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016;104(2):526-536.
- Lamprecht M, Bogner S, Schippinger G, et al. Probiotic supplementation affects markers of intestinal barrier, oxidation, and inflammation in trained men; a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. J Internat Soc Sports Nutr. 2012;9(1):45
- Pires W, Veneroso CE, Wanner SP, et al. Association Between Exercise-Induced Hyperthermia and Intestinal Permeability: A Systematic Review. Sports Med. 2017;47(7):1389-1403.
- Hodsdon W and Zwickey H. NMJ Original Research: Reproducibility and Reliability of Two Food Allergy Testing Methods. Nat Med J. 2010;2(3):1-13.