York, Enterolab, Or Great Smokie Mt. Which To Use?

[kactuskandee]

I'm about to order the test kit for the full panel testing of food allergies, 113 foods or food groups for both York and Enterolab and 120 for Great Smokie Mountain.

Which one have you used or would use over the other? I can't see much difference in York and Enterolabs. Great Smokie Mt. I believe someone said, were more expensive, but I don't know exactly how much. You also need to go through a doc, which is no problem in my case. I know my insurance won't pick up on any of this so it will be private pay.

(I've already had the Celiac blood tests done through my GI doc and only the IgA gliadin antibodies were mildly elevated yet I'd been on a fairly strict wheat free diet, but not by any means gluten free, for many years. I was diagnosed wheat/chicken allergic over 25 years ago through RAST testing. Up until 2 years ago I lived on high doses of Benedryl but slowly weaned myself off it because it aggravated "Restless Leg Syndrome").

Thanks for any input you may have. These tests aren't cheap so I want to make the best choice I can, with your help.

Kandee

[Guest barbara3675]

I did the full panel Enterolab which includes gene testing and was very pleased with their professionalism. The kit came swiftly and the results came in a day less than two weeks via email. It showed that I carried the gene (which told us where my granddaughter got it from) and confirmed that I should not eat gluten or cow's milk products. The cost was close to $400, but my health is worth it. I can eat some cow's milk products now without too much problem, though, after being gluten-free since late summer. I would recomment Enterolab.

Barbara

[kactuskandee]

Thanks Barbara, I don't know why I was under the impression that Enterolab did the pin-prick blood test for food allergies like York, but checking back again I see they don't, only the stool tests. Since they are in the same town in FL (I think) I wonder if they are associated in any way.

I've read here complaints about York not getting back to you on results. Guess you just have to bug them.

I wish more would post who have gone thru Great Smokie Mts. for the testing. My Alt. M.D. swears by them and so would lean toward them for the tests, BUT I think they are much more expensive, but if more accuate than why not?

thanks for your response,

Kandee

[FaithInScienceToo]

Enterolab is located in Texas - I just sent off my specimens this afternoon (stool and cheek cell samples) via pre-paid overnight DHL, which is all-included in the tests' costs.

[Melanie]

I think I found out somewhere that Great Smokie labs charged $525. I don't think I found it on the webpage, I think someone else said it was that much on another message board. They are a well repected lab. I would have went with them if I had the extra money. The next most reliable and accepted seems to be York labs. I just ordered my test from them and will post how it goes. I only heard one person really say they were delayed and such. One lady wasn't happy with the results because she didn't believe her husband was allergic to some items he tested positive for. Those are the only negative comments I remember. Most people here use Enterolab but there is a lot of conflict about whether using stool samples is reliable, accurate and representative. I'm not sure why so many pick enterolab. Good luck with your decision. I was/am pretty confused about which on is the best lab.

[kactuskandee]

I think one of the reasons Great Smokie Mt. is so expensive it because they include the RAST IgE test as well. I discovered that after looking into what their tests included.

Since I've already had the RAST IgE test lately I don't need to spend the extra money when I just want the IgG ELISA food tests. So, I think I will go with York. I don't know about he validity of stool vs. blood for testing for food intolerances, but the entire notion of sending blood instead of stool is easier to take, at least for me.

Thanks,

Kandee

[Melanie]

Hey Kandee,

I got my kit from York and it took like 1.5 weeks to get here. It wasn't hard to do and I sent it off. I hope I hear from them soon. Just wanted to let you know no problems so far.

What is IgE RAST?

melanie

[kactuskandee]

Hi Melanie,

Please post how long it took to get your test results from York, and I might add, what they were. Glad to hear it was no big deal taking the test. I didn't think it would be...probably much the way a diabetic tests their blood sugar.

The IgE RAST test, tests only a few top known allergen foods (10 or 12, can't remember exactly) and it is for a food ALLERGY, the kind that you get a reaction to right now, and likely will send you to the nearest ER with anaphylactic shock. I had a RAST test 27 years ago when I was sick as a dog and full of hives. Bedridden I ate only chicken soup with soda crackers (isn't that what everyone ate when they were sick?) and it turned out I was highly allergic to wheat and chicken. Ended up a few times in ER before I knew the culprits. The IgG is for all those, what..113 foods or food group INTOLERANCES..with a delayed reaction. That's the one I'm interested in now.

Kandee