CSS to provide ALCAT Test for food allergy

Chennai, Oct 14 (UNI) The US-based Cell Science Systems Limited(CSS), providing ALCAT Test, today launched its first centre for India in the city.

ALCAT Test is a Food Allergy and Chemical Sensitivity Intolerance Test that identifies foods and chemicals triggering problems in each individual.

ALCAT Laboratory currently tests for over 300 foods, food additives, food colourings, environmental chemicals and even moulds.

Talking to reporters here, CSS Founder-CEO Roger Deutsch said detecting food intolerance, that triggers countless health issues, including obesity, irritable bowel, skin conditions, depression and migraines formed the basis of the test.

The Centre, set up on a 1,500 sq ft area, boasts of state-of-the- art equipment imported from the US.

This would function as the main centre. The CSS would be setting up collection centres across Tamil Nadu to collect blood samples and bring them to Chennai for testing.

The test charges range from Rs 7,000 to Rs 17,000 and the CSS was planning to set up ten collection centres in the next six months.

The ALCAT Test differs from other food allergy or intolerance tests as it accurately measures leukocyte cellular reactivity in the blood, which is the final common pathway of all mechanisms, he claimed.

The test utilizes electronic, state-of-the-art hematological instrumentation.

''Standard allergy tests, such as skin testing or RAST are not accurate for delayed type reactions to foods and chemicals. They measure only a single mechanism, such as the effect of mast cell release of histamine or the presence of allergen specific IgE molecules.

''The ALCAT Test results are presented in an easy to understand, color-coded format that categorises intolerances by ''severe'', ''moderate'', ''mild'' or ''safe.'' ''From there, a customized four-day rotational diet was prescribed. After symptoms subside, the ''severe'' and ''moderate'' foods would be reintroduced on a limited basis.

''The benefits ALCAT Test results included increased metabolic function, decreased cellular inflammation and an overall improved quality of life,'' he claimed.

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