Take the Guesswork Out of Your Diet
Test details
IgG Food Sensitivity
There is a growing body of evidence to support the clinical benefits of eliminating IgG reactive foods from the diet.
In an IgG reaction, the IgG antibodies bind to food antigens creating antibody-antigen complexes. These complexes are normally removed by immune system cells called macrophages. However, if complexes are present in large numbers and the reactive food is still being consumed, the macrophages can’t remove them quickly enough. The food antigen-antibody complexes accumulate and can be deposited in body tissues. Once in tissues, these complexes can trigger inflammation, which may be responsible for a wide variety of symptoms.
Test overview
The LifeLabs FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity test has three different options including Candida for testing IgG antibodies.
- LifeLabs FST™ Enhanced+:
Our most comprehensive panel, tests for 211 most common foods, including 80+ foods not available in the Basic panel. This panel is especially popular with patients who eat less meat, wheat and refined sugar. This panel has the potential to identify more foods that the patient may be intolerant to; thereby providing you more robust information. - LifeLabs FST™ Vegetarian+:
Tests over 166 foods including all of the vegetarian foods offered in the Enhanced+ panel, as well as dairy and eggs, but excluding fish/seafood and meat. - LifeLabs FST™ Basic+:
The panel reports on 101 foods, including the most common food sensitivities in all categories: milk (cow, goat and sheep), eggs, corn and wheat.
How to order
LifeLabs FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity analysis is conducted via a blood test.
Naturopathic Doctor:
Blood samples can be collected via venipuncture or finger puncture at a LifeLabs Patient Service Centre (PSC). Patients will require a signed LifeLabs Naturopathic requisition for the collection. They are not required to bring the full kit to the PSC.
Medical Doctor:
Blood samples can be collected via venipuncture or finger puncture at a LifeLabs Patient Service Centre (PSC). You may use the OHIP or account requisition form and select the required test Patients will be asked to pay for the test when they arrive at the LifeLabs PSC to have their blood work done.
Other Healthcare Providers:
Please use the LifeLabs FST test kit and follow the collection instructions.
Test collection kits may be ordered via drOPsite
First time ordering with us? Register today!
Receiving results
Results will be available via drOPsite within 5-7 business days of the samples arriving at our lab. Hard copy results may take longer due to mailing time.
Understanding the report
The LifeLabs FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity test results have each antigen reported with its own respective ranges, along with a visual colour-coded bar scale to represent its relative numerical value that allows easy assessment.
There is a growing body of evidence to support the clinical benefits of eliminating IgG reactive foods from the diet.
In an IgG reaction, the IgG antibodies bind to food antigens creating antibody-antigen complexes. These complexes are normally removed by immune system cells called macrophages. However, if complexes are present in large numbers and the reactive food is still being consumed, the macrophages can’t remove them quickly enough. The food antigen-antibody complexes accumulate and can be deposited in body tissues. Once in tissues, these complexes can trigger inflammation, which may be responsible for a wide variety of symptoms.
The LifeLabs FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity test has three different options including Candida for testing IgG antibodies.
- LifeLabs FST™ Enhanced+:
Our most comprehensive panel, tests for 211 most common foods, including 80+ foods not available in the Basic panel. This panel is especially popular with patients who eat less meat, wheat and refined sugar. This panel has the potential to identify more foods that the patient may be intolerant to; thereby providing you more robust information. - LifeLabs FST™ Vegetarian+:
Tests over 166 foods including all of the vegetarian foods offered in the Enhanced+ panel, as well as dairy and eggs, but excluding fish/seafood and meat. - LifeLabs FST™ Basic+:
The panel reports on 101 foods, including the most common food sensitivities in all categories: milk (cow, goat and sheep), eggs, corn and wheat.
LifeLabs FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity analysis is conducted via a blood test.
Naturopathic Doctor:
Blood samples can be collected via venipuncture or finger puncture at a LifeLabs Patient Service Centre (PSC). Patients will require a signed LifeLabs Naturopathic requisition for the collection. They are not required to bring the full kit to the PSC.
Medical Doctor:
Blood samples can be collected via venipuncture or finger puncture at a LifeLabs Patient Service Centre (PSC). You may use the OHIP or account requisition form and select the required test Patients will be asked to pay for the test when they arrive at the LifeLabs PSC to have their blood work done.
Other Healthcare Providers:
Please use the LifeLabs FST test kit and follow the collection instructions.
Test collection kits may be ordered via drOPsite
First time ordering with us? Register today!
Results will be available via drOPsite within 5-7 business days of the samples arriving at our lab. Hard copy results may take longer due to mailing time.
The LifeLabs FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity test results have each antigen reported with its own respective ranges, along with a visual colour-coded bar scale to represent its relative numerical value that allows easy assessment.
Have a question? Need more information?
Test details
Sensitivity vs Allergy
When exposed to certain foods, your immune system can react by releasing proteins called antibodies. Food components that cause antibodies to be released are called antigens or allergens. Two of the types of antibodies that are commonly produced in response to foods are IgE (immunoglobulin E) and IgG (immunoglobulin G). A food allergy is an immediate reaction caused by IgE antibodies to a specific food or foods, while a food sensitivity is a delayed reaction caused by IgG antibodies to specific foods.
What is an IgG Food Sensitivity test?
Hours or days can pass between eating a reactive food and experiencing symptoms like upset stomach, headaches, fatigue or skin rashes. Therefore, IgG testing can help determine which foods might be responsible for these delayed symptoms.
The Lifelabs FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity test measures levels of IgG antibodies in up to 211 most common foods. All foods break down into molecules or particles, and sometimes these foods can be antigenic which triggers the production of antibodies. Antibodies are highly specialized proteins that bind to specific antigens. LifeLabs offers three types of IgG food sensitivity tests panels including Candida:
- LifeLabs FST™ Enhanced+:
Our most comprehensive panel, tests for 211 most common foods, including 80+ foods not available in the Basic panel. This panel is especially popular with patients who eat less meat, wheat and refined sugar. This panel has the potential to identify more foods that the patient may be intolerant to; thereby providing you more robust information. - LifeLabs FST™ Vegetarian+:
Tests over 166 foods including all of the vegetarian foods offered in the Enhanced+ panel, as well as dairy and eggs, but excluding fish/seafood and meat. - LifeLabs FST™ Basic+:
The panel reports on 101 foods, including the most common food sensitivities in all categories: milk (cow, goat and sheep), eggs, corn and wheat.
Who should get tested?
You can develop a food sensitivity at any age. Because IgG food reactions take hours or days to develop, it becomes difficult to determine which food is responsible for the reaction without testing. You should speak with your healthcare provider if you have the following ongoing symptoms:
- Systemic: Fever, fatigue, chills, sweating, weakness, puffiness.
- Skin: Itching, redness, swelling, and rashes.
- Brain: Mood and memory disturbances, behavioural problems.
- Lungs: Bronchitis and asthma symptoms.
- Musculoskeletal: Joint pain, muscle stiffness, swelling.
- Digestive tract: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas, bloating.
When is this test ordered?
Your healthcare provider may order an LifeLabs FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity test if they suspect that you may have a food sensitivity or if you have undiagnosed symptoms including:
- Digestive symptoms (Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas, bloating)
- Migraines
- Mood/attention deficit symptoms
- Weight gain
- Skin symptoms and signs
- Joint or muscle pain, stiffness, swelling
How can I get tested?
Discuss with your healthcare provider
Book an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss test options and receive the required signed requisition form(s) and/or test kit. Find a healthcare provider
Understanding your results
A comprehensive report will be provided to your healthcare provider approximately 5-7 business days after your sample has been received by our laboratory. Results will be summarized in a visual report that will help your healthcare provider determine appropriate next steps.
Depending on the results, your healthcare provider may recommend changes in diet, nutritional supplements or other interventions. Other laboratory tests may be recommended to look for other causes of your symptoms.
When exposed to certain foods, your immune system can react by releasing proteins called antibodies. Food components that cause antibodies to be released are called antigens or allergens. Two of the types of antibodies that are commonly produced in response to foods are IgE (immunoglobulin E) and IgG (immunoglobulin G). A food allergy is an immediate reaction caused by IgE antibodies to a specific food or foods, while a food sensitivity is a delayed reaction caused by IgG antibodies to specific foods.
Hours or days can pass between eating a reactive food and experiencing symptoms like upset stomach, headaches, fatigue or skin rashes. Therefore, IgG testing can help determine which foods might be responsible for these delayed symptoms.
The Lifelabs FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity test measures levels of IgG antibodies in up to 211 most common foods. All foods break down into molecules or particles, and sometimes these foods can be antigenic which triggers the production of antibodies. Antibodies are highly specialized proteins that bind to specific antigens. LifeLabs offers three types of IgG food sensitivity tests panels including Candida:
- LifeLabs FST™ Enhanced+:
Our most comprehensive panel, tests for 211 most common foods, including 80+ foods not available in the Basic panel. This panel is especially popular with patients who eat less meat, wheat and refined sugar. This panel has the potential to identify more foods that the patient may be intolerant to; thereby providing you more robust information. - LifeLabs FST™ Vegetarian+:
Tests over 166 foods including all of the vegetarian foods offered in the Enhanced+ panel, as well as dairy and eggs, but excluding fish/seafood and meat. - LifeLabs FST™ Basic+:
The panel reports on 101 foods, including the most common food sensitivities in all categories: milk (cow, goat and sheep), eggs, corn and wheat.
You can develop a food sensitivity at any age. Because IgG food reactions take hours or days to develop, it becomes difficult to determine which food is responsible for the reaction without testing. You should speak with your healthcare provider if you have the following ongoing symptoms:
- Systemic: Fever, fatigue, chills, sweating, weakness, puffiness.
- Skin: Itching, redness, swelling, and rashes.
- Brain: Mood and memory disturbances, behavioural problems.
- Lungs: Bronchitis and asthma symptoms.
- Musculoskeletal: Joint pain, muscle stiffness, swelling.
- Digestive tract: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas, bloating.
Your healthcare provider may order an LifeLabs FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity test if they suspect that you may have a food sensitivity or if you have undiagnosed symptoms including:
- Digestive symptoms (Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas, bloating)
- Migraines
- Mood/attention deficit symptoms
- Weight gain
- Skin symptoms and signs
- Joint or muscle pain, stiffness, swelling
Discuss with your healthcare provider
Book an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss test options and receive the required signed requisition form(s) and/or test kit. Find a healthcare provider
A comprehensive report will be provided to your healthcare provider approximately 5-7 business days after your sample has been received by our laboratory. Results will be summarized in a visual report that will help your healthcare provider determine appropriate next steps.
Depending on the results, your healthcare provider may recommend changes in diet, nutritional supplements or other interventions. Other laboratory tests may be recommended to look for other causes of your symptoms.
Questions? Please check our FAQ section
Research
Food sensitivity is an immune reaction that leads to inflammation and may contribute to symptoms of disease. However, food sensitivity is not a disease. Some healthcare professionals may be unclear on the purpose of food sensitivity testing.
Some common misunderstandings about food sensitivity testing may arise from the following:
IgG food reactions are sometimes confused with IgE food allergies. Referring to food sensitivity as an IgG food allergy is incorrect, since no such condition exists. Only when someone has an IgE reaction to foods should the term food allergy be used.
One subtype of IgG antibodies, IgG4, helps protect against IgE food allergies. However, the majority of IgG antibodies (95%) form complexes with antigens (like those from food) that trigger inflammation, and provide no protection against IgE-mediated food reactions.
Allergists recognize that making IgG antibodies to foods is normal, but they may not agree that IgG-food antigen immune complexes have the potential to cause inflammation. To help clear up some of these common misunderstandings, we’ve compiled a reference document citing 37 research studies and review articles pertaining to IgG-mediated food sensitivity.
