Laboratory tests

Tests de alergia e intolerancia

In case of allergy, IgE-antibodies are found in the blood directed against food or other allergens in your environment, like house dust, mold or pollen. According regular medicine these allergies only occur in people that are genetically predisposed, called atopy. One quarter of the Dutch population has such a predisposition. In atopic patients, one or more of the following diseases or symptoms occur like atopic eczema, runny nose or a stuffy nose, conjunctivitis of the eye, hay fever or allergic asthma. Next to this, atopic people more often have allergic symptoms like rashes and hives due to certain drug use. They furthermore also react to dust, infections, natural phenomenons, weather influences, clothing etc.

The largest part (75%) of the population does not have this allergic aptitude. Food allergies and other allergies do however occur in this group as well. In these people antibodies of another type are raised like IgG or IgG4. In order to detect these antibodies, tests are developed by the KEAC laboratory. These tests have been used for more than 30 years in the meantime by patients in Europe and beyond, in scientific research and the test is sometimes reimbursed by the health insurance companies

Read more about allergy and intolerance

The reaction to a food or other substance evolves through certain allergy cells in the mucous membranes (mastocytes) and in the blood (basophilic leucocytes). When an allergen reaches the blood through the intestinal wall, the body produces an antibody as an answer, which matches the allergen like a key to a lock. Antibodies are transported through the blood and attach themselves to the earlier mentioned allergy cells. When the particular food is ingested again these antibodies will attach themselves to the mastocytes. The cell will then produce several substances, amongst which histamine. This substance can let the muscles of the long and intestines contract, it activates certain glands, and it dilates blood vessels and stimulated nerve endings. The result of this may be tightness of the chest, intestinal complaints, coughing up phlegm and mucus, heartburn, redness of the skin, oedema and itching.

When such an allergy exists for more than one food, the causal relationship between the food and the illness is far from easy to determine. An allergy test can provide clarity quickly in such a case. The most important evidence for the existence of a food allergy lies in its scientific evidential value. After a time of abstinence the complaints will immediately start again once the food is ingested again.

Detecting allergic reactions is of great importance, because they deplete the immune system, the stress-regulation system and the hormonal system on the long term. One of the most important symptoms is fatigue (Allergic Fatigue Syndrome). Many secondary complaints may follow, like the piling up of fluid in the middle ear, chronic infections (Candida albicans, fungal infections of the skin, athlete’s foot) and reactive hypoglycaemia (a blood sugar level that fluctuates too strongly). A greater sensitivity to wood protectants, formaldehyde, pesticides etc. also can result.

Hyperreactivity

By abnormalities in the histamine content in cells, allergic reactions can be much stronger as expected. This phenomenon is called hyper reactivity. Allergy is another reaction than that occurs in healthy people; in hyper reactivity it is the same reaction, only much stronger or more violent. This phenomenon can be determined by means of a histamine challenge test on the skin (intradermal test), a histamine provocation test or histamine nose provocation test. In the blood this deviation can be detected by means of a whole blood histamine test.