ALCAT test claims to detect food intolerance, but researchers disagree

Linda Markley owns Any Lab Test Now in Fort Myers. Part of the comprehensive services she offers is a food intolerance test called ALCAT, which she points out is not an allergy test.

Instead, the test claims to find out what foods you are sensitive to based on the body’s immune response in the blood to what you are eating.

Jeannette Stutzman had her daughter tested when she could not get rid of her Eczema. She found out that her daughter is highly sensitive to gluten and dairy, so she swiftly took those things out of her daughter’s diet.

“Within two weeks of removing these things from her diet,” Stutzman said, “she cleared up.”

Once the test is complete, participants send out a kit in the mail. Within five to 10 business days, the person will have the results, which show what the participant is sensitive to.

The technology takes advantage of recent advances in molecular biology. However, despite the results, a Naples Gastroenterologist said these tests do not have enough research to back up its claim.

“The information that’s generated doesn’t really have any relevance in terms of predicting whether a person will react to a food,”

It is an idea that is supported by the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, which conclude that the ALCAT test “is an unproven diagnostic test for adverse reactions to foods,” Dr. Raymond Phillips said.

Despite the research, Stutzman and Markley said they are big believers.

“Once you remove these things from your diet, your gut heals,” Stutzman said.

“It’s really a good test,” Markley said.

And the pair encourages others to research food sensitivity tests for themselves before allocating money to the procedure.