What does the IgG Antibodies to 184 Food Antigens test measure?

Why is IgG Antibodies to 184 Food Antigens measured?

Food-specific IgG testing is used in functional and integrative medicine to guide empirical elimination diets in patients with chronic gastrointestinal complaints, fatigue, or systemic symptoms not explained by IgE-mediated allergy. Mainstream allergy and gastroenterology societies do not endorse IgG testing as a diagnostic for food allergy or intolerance, because IgG production occurs in healthy individuals and correlates with dietary exposure. When practitioners use this panel, results are interpreted as exploratory data to personalise an elimination trial, not as definitive evidence of pathology. Clinical validation comes from symptom response during elimination and reintroduction, rather than from the antibody titre alone.

Reference ranges

Standard reference

Method-specific thresholds classify reactions as negative, borderline, moderate, or high; cut-points are laboratory-defined and not standardised across platforms.

Functional medicine optimal

No evidence-based optimal IgG titre exists. Laboratories report relative classifications (e.g. 'Class 0' through 'Class 4'), but these are method-specific and non-standardised.

Units

U/mL, relative units

Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform. Interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.