Food Intolerance Package: Introduction, Related Lab Tests, and Keynotes

Introduction of Food Intolerance Package

The food Intolerance package includes a panel of tests to know if patients have sensitivity to a specific food. A food allergy test is also a part of the Food Intolerance package to know the reason for intolerance in which a blood test can measure the immune system’s response to the patient to particular foods by measuring the allergy-related antibody known as immunoglobulin E (IgE). The patient needs to fast (no consumption of food or drinks except water) 10 to 12 hours before the sample blood collection.

Food Intolerance Tests

The list of panels for Food Intolerance Tests is as follows-

• Cardiac marker: hs-CRP
• Antibody: Immunoglobulin (IgE)
• Diabetics

Iron Profile Test

• TOTAL IRON BINDING CAPACITY
• % TRANSFERRIN SATURATION
• IRON
• UIBC

Lipid Profile-

• TOTAL CHOLESTEROL
• HDL – CHOLESTEROL
• TRIGLYCERIDE
• LDL Cholesterol
• VLDL
• Non – HDL Cholesterol
• Total Cholesterol/HDL ratio
• LDL / HDL RATIO
• HDL/LDL RATIO

Thyroid Function Tests

• FT3
• FT4
• TSH

Vitamin Assay

• Vitamin D Level

Liver Function Test (LFT)-

• ALBUMIN
• TOTAL PROTEIN
• ALT
• AST
• Bilirubin
• Direct Bilirubin
• Total Bilirubin
• ALBUMIN/GLOBULIN RATIO
• ALT / AST RATIO
• ALP
• GGT

Renal Function Test (RFT)-

• CREATININE
• UREA
• Sodium
• Potassium
• BLOOD UREA NITROGEN
• BUN/CREATININE RATIO
• Urea/Creatinine Ratio
• Uric Acid

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

• Hemoglobin
• Differential Count
• Neutrophil
• Lymphocytes
• Monocyte
• Eosinophils
• Basophil
• Absolute Neutrophil
• Absolute Lymphocyte
• Absolute Eosinophil
• Absolute Monocyte
• Absolute Basophil
• PCV
• MCV
• MCH
• MCHC
• RDW – SD
• RDW – CV
• Platelets
• Leucocytes count
• RBC

Keynotes on Food Intolerance Package

• 10 to 12 hours of fasting is mandatory for Food Intolerance Package blood tests.
• Differences among food sensitivity, food allergy, and food intolerance are given in a table-

Features	Food sensitivity	Food allergy	Food intolerance
Definition	It occurs when the immune system reacts to a specific food, creating a variety of adverse symptoms.	It is a type of immune response triggered by the proteins found in a specific food.	It doesn’t involve the immune system but it is often occurred due to a lack of certain enzymes required to break it down
Involvement of Immunoglobulin (Ig)	IgG, IgM, and IgA	IgE	No involvement
Causes	It is triggered by a type of protein found in wheat, barley and rye have been linked to symptoms such as bloating, stomach pain, brain fog, depression, and skin inflammation	Milk and other dairy products, peanuts, eggs, fish, shellfish, wheat, , tree nuts, soy, and sesame are common foods that cause food allergies.	Fructose, lactose, caffeine, sulfites, and food additives, including certain preservatives and artificial colors, are common sources of food intolerance.