Meridian Valley Laboratory uses a state of the art enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA, 96-well format for best precision) to measure serum antibodies to foods. The E panel is the basic foods panel and consists of 95 commonly eaten foods. The A panel does not overlap with the E panel, and consists of another 95 less-commonly eaten foods and seasonings. The inhalants are region-specific panels of the most common tree, grass, weed and mold antigens from given regions of the continental USA (NW, SW, W, NE, SE). All inhalant panels include cat, dog, mite (environmental), and molds. All tests are in full compliance with rigorous Washington State Department of Health, Health Systems Quality Assurance standards.
Panel Of Tests
- E Panel: basic foods including 95 commonly eaten foods.
- A Panel: an additional 95 common foods and seasonings, with no overlap of the E Panel.
- Inhalants are region-specific, including panels of common tree, grass, weed, and mold from each region of the US (NW, SW, W, NE, SE).
- All inhalant panels include cat, dog, mite (environmental) antigens, and molds.
- Both IgE and IgG4 antibodies are measured for foods; IgE is tested for inhalants.
Common Indications
- Depression
- Aphthous stomatitis
- Asthma
- Eczema
- Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity
- Autism
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Dermatitis herpetiformis
- Epilepsy
- Gallstones
- Inflammatory bowel disease - ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease
- Intestinal dysbiosis, Candidiasis
- Intestinal hyperpermeability
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Migraine headache
- Multiple sclerosis
- Otitis media
- Peptic ulcer
- Psoriasis
- Rosacea
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Urticaria
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Estimates of the proportion of the population allergic to foods vary around 50% and this figure has increased over the last 50 years. An increase in the variety of foods eaten as well as increased early exposure to cow's milk formula have both contributed to the rise in food allergies.
Symptoms vary widely. The immediate, obvious IgE-mediated food reactions include hives, wheezing, rhinorrhea, vomiting and anaphylaxis. Delayed or IgG-mediated reactions include non-obvious, chronic symptoms such as headache, digestive complaints, musculoskeletal symptoms and skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis.
Prominent allergist J.C. Breneman, M.D. once wrote, "food allergy is often overlooked . any patient with confusing, prolonged complaints or poor treatment response might recover amazingly on a week of diagnostic elimination diet."
Consideration of food allergy is a critical component of any comprehensive approach to good health and for prevention of illness, and an elimination diet approach remains the gold standard for diagnosis of food allergy.
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