Frequently
Asked
Questions

‍‍About inFoods® IBS and Food Sensitivity
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How does the inFoods® IBS Test work?
‍The inFoods® IBS Test helps to identify foods that trigger IBS symptoms that when removed from the diet, may alleviate or improve IBS symptoms. inFoods® IBS measures IgG antibodies to food extracts and is considered a food sensitivity test (Type III hypersensitivity reaction) as opposed to an allergy test.
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inFoods® IBS measures ELEVATED IgG levels which have been established by comparing IBS patients and healthy individuals. Each food also has its own specific cut-off value to determine if the IgG levels are above "normal". The reason for this approach is that healthy individuals, i.e. people with no food related symptoms, also show IgG levels to food (= normal level). inFoods® IBS measures an elevation of these IgG levels and not “just” IgG to foods.
   
The inFoods® IBS assay is a laboratory developed test. Food extracts are coated onto wells on a microplate. A blood sample provided by a person with gastrointestinal / IBS symptoms is diluted and dispensed into the wells, each with the different 18 foods, on the microplate. Specific food IgG antibodies, if present in the blood sample, bind to the food extract. The results are measured by a reader in a laboratory. A final report provides a simple-to-understand (positive or negative) result for each food in the test panel.  

‍How is the inFoods® IBS test different from other food sensitivity tests?
inFoods® IBS utilizes a patented & clinically tested approach to detect antibodies to IBS-specific foods. IBS-specific cut-offs have been established for each food in the panel by comparing IBS patients and healthy controls. inFoods® IBS was clinically studied at the nation’s leading medical centers (Mayo Clinic, Harvard, University of Michigan, University of Texas Medical Center) with actual IBS Patients. When IBS patients in the study stopped eating foods identified by inFoods® IBS, the majority experienced significant improvements in their IBS symptoms including pain, bloating and bowel movement urgency.  

Why do foods cause an IgG response?
‍Foods are broken down during digestion into their component parts (e.g. amino acids, glycerides etc.), which usually pass harmlessly through the gut into the bloodstream. However, occasionally small fragments of partially digested or undigested foods are able to pass through the gut wall into the bloodstream where they are recognized by the immune system as being ‘foreign’. The immune system responds by making antibodies (IgG among other types).

Why should I test for IgG antibodies to foods and why use inFoods® IBS?
The efficacy of an elimination diet based on IgG antibodies specific for food components has been demonstrated in a number of conditions, both in independent studies and clinical practice.

‍Excellent results have been obtained in IBS patients with inFoods® IBS. inFoods® IBS was clinically studied at the nation’s leading medical centers (Mayo Clinic, Harvard, University of Michigan, University of Texas Medical Center) with actual IBS Patients. When IBS patients in the study stopped eating the foods identified by the inFoods® IBS test, the majority experienced significant improvements in their IBS symptoms including pain, bloating and bowel movement urgency.

What is the difference of inFoods® IBS to a food allergy test?
Allergy (Type 1 hypersensitivity of the immune system) is related with IgE antibody production against certain allergens, which can be foods, inhalants, molds, epidermal scales from animals etc. An allergic reaction to foods is normally an immediate reaction, i.e. symptoms occur after a few minutes, in rare cases, after a few hours. An allergic reaction can be life-threatening. inFoods® IBS is not a food allergy test and should not be used to detect food allergies. Please consult your healthcare provider if you experience immediate (within minutes) symptoms to foods to clarify if a food allergy is the cause of your symptoms.

‍Will someone with Celiac or Gluten Sensitivity be positive for wheat with inFoods® IBS?
inFoods® IBS measures IgG antibodies against wheat food extract (1 of the foods in the panel). To help to diagnose Celiac Disease, antibodies (IgA, IgG) against tissue Transglutaminase and anti-Gliadin are the markers that are measured. So these are separate and completely different tests than measuring IgG antibodies to food extracts. If someone is negative for wheat with inFoods® IBS, this does not rule out Celiac disease. There are patients who are both "Celiac Disease" and wheat IgG positive. Individuals who have been avoiding wheat for a longer period of time (e.g. because of being celiac or gluten sensitive) may not show wheat IgG positive results for this reason.

‍Taking the inFoods® IBS Test
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Is the inFoods® IBS easy to take?
It’s very easy! inFoods® IBS uses a simple finger prick blood test. The sample collection can be easily done in a few minutes in the comfort of your home. The lancets are provided to give you a very small prick to start the blood flow, and if administered correctly, will not hurt. The simple finger prick is much more comfortable than a full blood draw. Detailed instructions and a video help you to do the sample collection correctly and to send the sample to our accredited partner lab.

Does the inFoods® IBS have any side effects?
No side effects! inFoods® IBS is not a drug. It helps to identify the foods that trigger your IBS symptoms.  

Is it necessary to fast prior to taking the inFoods® IBS test?
It is not necessary to fast prior to your inFoods® test.

‍Is it necessary to adjust my diet prior to taking the inFoods® IBS test?
It is not necessary to adjust your diet in any way prior to your test. The inFoods® IBS test involves taking your blood and exposing it to various foods to detect an immune reaction against your normally consumed foods.

I have a cold and/or temperature. Is it okay to take the test?
Out of caution we suggest that you wait until the symptoms of an illness have subsided and the temperature is normal.  However, as our test is specific to raised IgG antibodies to individual foods, the results should not be affected.

‍Is there any medication that I should avoid when taking the inFoods® IBS test?
Steroids and immunosuppressant medications may affect your immune system and the capability to form a proper antibody response. Testing can be performed, but the results should be interpreted in the appropriate clinical context by your healthcare provider. Antihistamines, antibiotics and other medication have not shown to alter the test results.
You should not discontinue any of your current medications or supplements without discussing this with your health care provider.

‍Can I have the inFoods® IBS test done if I am on a restricted diet?
Yes, you can still take the inFoods® IBS test if you are on a restricted diet. Whether these restrictions affect your test results is dependent on how long the diet has been in place. IgG antibodies to food can develop and change over time depending on your diet and other factors. For example, if you have been avoiding a food for many months, IgG towards this food can be drastically reduced, and therefore show a negative response in the inFoods® IBS test (provided the food is part of the assay).
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Collecting and Sending Your Sample

I am waiting for my test kit to arrive; how long will it take?
You will receive your kit within 10 days.

‍What are the blood sample requirements?
‍A very small amount of whole blood (finger prick) is needed. Full instructions are given with the kit. A return shipping label for the box (the same box as the one in which the test was shipped) is provided, so that you can return your sample safely to the laboratory.

‍Do I have to collect the blood sample at any particular time of day?
‍No, samples can be collected at any time of the day. Food-specific IgG antibodies are not as sensitive as some other blood markers.

‍Can I send you a picture of my blood sample to see if it is acceptable for testing?
No sorry, this is not possible. Please refer to the instructions for use inside the box and the instruction video. The proper sample collection is extensively described and comprehensively depicted.
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What happens to my blood sample after it has been tested?
All samples are safely destroyed in the laboratory after results have been reported.

Test Results

How long will it take to get my results?
It can take up to 2 weeks to get your results.

There has been a request to provide another blood sample. Why is this?
Every laboratory test that is processed includes individual checks to ensure that the results provided are reliable. This includes sample and test acceptance criteria. On rare occasions these checks fail to pass stringent standards. In these cases, the customer is asked to provide another sample for repeat testing. It could also be that the sample volume was not sufficient for testing. Please refer to the proper sample collection in the instructions for use to avoid this case.

I received a positive result on a food that I have never eaten. Why is this?
Some types of proteins are present in more than one food type. Many foods contain “hidden” ingredients that may be eaten without realizing. It is very important to check ingredient labels carefully. Also, it is possible that you have eaten foods within the same food family or been exposed to a protein that is similar to the protein in the foods. This can result in IgG antibody production and give you a positive result for the food that you have never eaten.

I have been avoiding a food for months/years; will this affect my test results?
The inFoods® IBS test is based on your immune system. If you have been avoiding a particular food, the respective IgG antibody level may be insufficient to be detected by the test. You may therefore show a negative response. This just means your body is not producing high levels of IgG antibodies towards this particular food.

What does it mean if I have no positive results?
If you receive only negative results on the inFoods® IBS test, you have no elevated food-specific IgG levels to the foods in the panel: Your IgG levels might be normal which means they are similar to the ones from healthy controls or not present at all to the foods in the inFoods® IBS test.

Is it possible to have high IgG levels to certain foods but not to experience any symptoms?  
Yes, some people do have high IgG levels to certain foods, but do not have any symptoms at all. This is possibly due to their immune system being extremely efficient at clearing away the food-antibody complexes before they have a chance to be deposited in the tissues and cause symptoms.

If I am positive to Cow’s Milk, does that mean I am lactose intolerant?
No, not necessarily. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, the major sugar found in milk and is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase. Our food sensitivity test detects whether your immune system is reacting to proteins within cow's milk but does not detect whether the enzyme lactase is functioning correctly. Therefore, inFoods® IBS cannot diagnose lactose intolerance.   

Is gluten-free the same as wheat-free?
No. A product can be wheat-free but not gluten-free and vice versa. You can buy products that are both gluten-free and wheat-free. It is important to read ingredient labels to be certain.
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Where can I get my results?
If you purchased the inFoods® IBS test through our website, your results will be emailed to you once they’ve been processed by our lab. If you received the test through your doctor’s office, your results will be provided directly by your doctor.
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If you have any other questions that are not addressed here, please contact us at the below email address.

Info@inFoodsIBS.com