Does elevated IgG to a food mean I must avoid it permanently?

Not necessarily. Elevated IgG reflects immune exposure and may correlate with symptoms, but it can also be found in healthy individuals. Practitioners use the results to guide a trial elimination (typically 4–12 weeks), followed by supervised reintroduction to assess clinical response. Antibody titres often decline after prolonged avoidance.

What does concurrent IgG and IgA reactivity to the same food indicate?

Some practitioners interpret concurrent IgG and IgA elevation as a marker of active mucosal immune engagement, suggesting ongoing gut inflammation or permeability, whereas isolated IgG may reflect past exposure or systemic tolerance. This framework is exploratory and not validated by randomised trials.

Can the test diagnose coeliac disease?

No. Array 10 measures IgG and IgA to wheat proteins but does not include anti-tissue transglutaminase, endomysial, or deamidated gliadin peptide antibodies required for coeliac diagnosis. Order a dedicated coeliac panel if coeliac disease is suspected.

Should I avoid the foods I suspect before the test?

No. For accurate results, continue eating your usual diet, including suspected foods, for at least two weeks before the test. Avoidance may lower antibody titres and produce false-negative results.

What if all my IgA results are low or negative?

Low IgA reactivity across all foods may indicate selective IgA deficiency (prevalence approximately 1 in 300–700). Order a total serum IgA test to confirm that you can produce IgA; if deficient, the IgA portion of the array is uninterpretable.

Are the results interchangeable with other food-antibody panels?

No. Cyrex Array 10 uses optical-density thresholds and proprietary antigen preparations that are not standardised across laboratories. Serial testing and result comparison should be performed in the same laboratory.

How is the test used in clinical practice?

Practitioners correlate moderate-to-high reactivity with symptom patterns, eliminate the most reactive foods for a defined period, and reassess both clinically and serologically. The test is an exploratory tool to guide dietary trials, not a diagnostic endpoint, and clinical response to elimination and reintroduction is the ultimate arbiter.

BML-IMM-003immune systemUSA

180 Food IgG/IgA - Array 10

The 180 Food IgG/IgA - Array 10 measures serum antibodies to 180 foods across both IgG (systemic exposure) and IgA (mucosal immune) isotypes. It is an exploratory functional tool used to guide elimination-diet strategies in chronic gastrointestinal, autoimmune, and inflammatory conditions, interpreted alongside clinical symptoms and response to supervised dietary intervention rather than as a…

Biomarkers

Blood (serum)

Sample

10–14 business days

Turnaround

Fasting

What is the Array 10 test?

The 180 Food IgG/IgA - Array 10 is a comprehensive food-antibody panel that measures serum IgG and IgA reactivity to 180 individual foods, spanning grains, dairy, meats, seafood, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices. It is ordered in functional and integrative medicine settings to identify dietary antigens that may contribute to immune activation, intestinal permeability, and systemic inflammation. The test is not designed to diagnose IgE-mediated food allergy or classical coeliac disease; rather, it is used to inform elimination-diet strategies in patients with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms, autoimmune conditions, inflammatory states, and neurological or dermatological presentations in which dietary triggers are suspected but not readily identified through clinical history alone. Because elevated food-specific IgG and IgA can be found in asymptomatic individuals and may reflect normal immune exposure or tolerance, the array is not interpreted in isolation. Practitioners correlate reactivity patterns with symptom chronology, assess response to a structured elimination and reintroduction protocol, and revisit the panel to confirm whether antibody titres decline after prolonged avoidance. The dual-isotype format — measuring both IgG (systemic exposure) and IgA (mucosal immune engagement) — is intended to distinguish active mucosal responses from past or incidental exposure, though this framework remains exploratory and not supported by large-scale outcome trials.

What does the Array 10 test measure?

IgG(Food-Specific Immunoglobulin G)

Range: Laboratory-specific optical density thresholds classify reactivity as negative, borderline, or elevated; no universal reference interval exists.Optimal: There is no clinically validated optimal range for food-specific IgG. Practitioners typically act on moderate-to-high reactivity combined with clinical suspicion, and assess response to targeted elimination.Optical density (OD) / Qualitative classification

IgG is the most abundant immunoglobulin class and mediates delayed hypersensitivity responses. Food-specific IgG antibodies form when dietary proteins cross the gut barrier and are processed by antigen-presenting cells. In health, oral tolerance suppresses IgG responses to common foods; persistent IgG reactivity may reflect loss of tolerance, increased intestinal permeability, or repeated antigenic exposure. IgG4 subclass responses (not separately measured on this array) can be non-inflammatory and reflect exposure rather than pathology.

Elevated food-specific IgG is interpreted as a marker of immune exposure to dietary antigens rather than a direct indicator of clinical allergy. The clinical significance is contested — some practitioners use IgG reactivity to guide elimination diets in functional gastrointestinal, inflammatory, and neurological conditions, while others note that IgG can be detected in healthy individuals and may represent tolerance or exposure. Array 10 screens 180 foods, offering a broad view of antigenic load.

IgA(Food-Specific Immunoglobulin A)

Range: Laboratory-specific optical density thresholds classify reactivity as negative, borderline, or elevated; no universal reference interval exists.Optimal: No consensus optimal range exists. Practitioners typically consider moderate-to-high IgA reactivity in the context of IgG patterns, gastrointestinal symptoms, and response to trial elimination.Optical density (OD) / Qualitative classification

Secretory IgA is the principal immunoglobulin at mucosal surfaces, binding antigens in the gut lumen and preventing their uptake. Serum IgA reflects mucosal immune activity and can rise when mucosal integrity is compromised. Food-specific IgA antibodies are thought to indicate ongoing mucosal immune response to dietary antigens, and their presence alongside IgG reactivity may signal active gut inflammation or permeability rather than remote exposure.

Concurrent IgG and IgA reactivity to a food is interpreted by some practitioners as a marker of active mucosal immune engagement, whereas isolated IgG may reflect past exposure or tolerance. The dual-isotype format of Array 10 is designed to capture both systemic (IgG) and mucosal (IgA) responses. As with IgG, the evidence base for using serum IgA to guide dietary intervention is limited and the approach is exploratory.

Why is the Array 10 test ordered?

Investigation of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms (bloating, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, altered bowel habit) when standard diagnostics and an empirical low-FODMAP or gluten-free trial have not clarified the picture
Assessment of suspected food-related immune activation in patients with autoimmune conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto thyroiditis, inflammatory bowel disease) for whom symptom flares correlate temporally with diet but specific triggers are unclear
Evaluation of dermatological conditions — eczema, psoriasis, urticaria — in which standard allergy testing (skin-prick, specific IgE) is negative but a dietary contribution is clinically suspected
Neurological and psychiatric presentations (migraine, 'brain fog', fatigue, mood lability) where the patient or practitioner suspects food-related inflammation and wishes to pursue a systematic elimination strategy
Support of functional-medicine protocols targeting intestinal permeability ('leaky gut'), where dual IgG/IgA reactivity may guide temporary dietary restriction while mucosal healing interventions are pursued
Baseline and follow-up assessment in patients undertaking structured elimination diets, to correlate antibody changes with symptom improvement and to re-challenge foods as tolerance is restored
Evaluation of patients with unexplained systemic inflammation (elevated hs-CRP, recurrent joint pain, chronic fatigue) in whom infectious, rheumatological, and malignant causes have been excluded and dietary antigens remain a hypothesis
Paediatric populations with developmental, behavioural, or gastrointestinal concerns in which parents and clinicians seek an immune rationale for trial dietary restriction, though the evidence base is weaker in children and clinical judgement is paramount

Sample collection and turnaround

Sample type

Blood (serum)

Fasting required

Collection method

Venipuncture at patient service centre

Turnaround

10–14 business days

Collection notes

Phlebotomy required; Cyrex recommends that patients remain on their usual diet (including foods they suspect) for at least two weeks before testing, so that recent exposure is reflected in antibody titres. Avoidance of a food before testing may yield a false-negative result. Draw site can be a Cyrex-contracted phlebotomy service or a local clinic that ships to the Cyrex laboratory; check regional specimen-handling requirements.

Specimen requirements

Serum separator tube; check Cyrex specimen-handling protocol for minimum volume and storage. Specimen must be separated and frozen if shipment is delayed; consult the laboratory kit instructions.

What can affect Array 10 results?

elevatesRecent consumption of tested foods

IgG and IgA titres reflect exposure; patients actively eating a food will likely show reactivity, which may represent normal tolerance rather than pathology. A truly reactive food will show sustained or heightened antibody levels, but baseline high titres in the context of frequent consumption are difficult to interpret.

reducesTotal IgA deficiency

Selective IgA deficiency (prevalence approximately 1 in 300–700) abolishes or markedly lowers serum IgA, rendering the IgA portion of the array uninterpretable. Total serum IgA should be checked if IgA reactivity is absent across all tested foods.

reducesImmunosuppressive therapy

Corticosteroids, biologics, and other immunosuppressants can blunt antibody production, lowering IgG and IgA reactivity and producing false-negative results in patients with genuine immune-mediated food reactions.

variableAcute gastrointestinal infection or inflammation

Infections or flares of inflammatory bowel disease transiently increase intestinal permeability and antigen uptake, potentially elevating food-specific antibodies. Testing during an acute event may overestimate the chronic antigenic load.

variableCross-reactivity between foods

Antibodies raised to one protein may recognise homologous proteins in botanically or taxonomically related foods (e.g., legumes, tree nuts, grasses). A pattern of reactivity across food families can reflect cross-reactivity rather than independent sensitisation to each item.

variableLaboratory and lot variation

Optical-density assays are sensitive to plate lot, reagent batch, and calibration. Serial testing to track changes should ideally be performed in the same laboratory, and large shifts in reactivity are more informative than borderline fluctuations.

What do Array 10 results mean?

Elevated

Moderate-to-high IgG or IgA reactivity to specific foods suggests immune exposure and, in the context of clinical symptoms, may guide a trial elimination. Concurrent IgG and IgA elevation to the same food is interpreted by some practitioners as a marker of active mucosal immune engagement. Reactivity to multiple related foods (e.g., all grains, all dairy) can indicate cross-reactivity or broader intestinal permeability. Correlate with symptom diary, eliminate the most reactive foods for 4–12 weeks, and reassess clinically and serologically.

Normal

Negative reactivity across the panel does not exclude food-related symptoms — IgE-mediated allergy, non-immune intolerances (lactose, fructose), and other mechanisms (FODMAPs, salicylates, histamine) are not captured by IgG/IgA measurement. A negative array in a symptomatic patient redirects investigation toward these alternative pathways.

Reduced

Low or absent IgG and IgA reactivity suggests either true tolerance or lack of recent exposure. A patient on a highly restricted baseline diet may show minimal reactivity because they have not consumed the tested foods; reintroduction under supervision can then be guided by clinical response rather than antibody levels.

Note: IgG and IgA food antibodies are markers of exposure, not validated biomarkers of allergy or intolerance. Elevated titres can be found in asymptomatic individuals, and elimination based solely on antibody levels without clinical correlation is not evidence-based. This is an exploratory, functional tool; clinical decisions should rest on symptom response to supervised elimination and reintroduction, not on antibody titres alone. The panel does not replace standard allergy (IgE, skin-prick) or coeliac (anti-tTG, EMA, biopsy) testing when those conditions are suspected.

Frequently asked questions

IgE allergy tests detect immediate hypersensitivity reactions (anaphylaxis, urticaria, angioedema) mediated by mast cells, whereas IgG food testing measures delayed immune responses and exposure. IgG is not a marker of classical allergy and is used in functional medicine to guide elimination diets, not to diagnose life-threatening food allergy.

How to access the Array 10 test

The Array 10 reference page is free and open to all practitioners. Create a free practitioner account to see pricing, save tests to your list, and generate requisition forms. Verification takes 1–2 business days.

Create Free Account

About this page

Published: October 7, 2026

Last reviewed: October 7, 2026

References:

Stapel SO, et al. Testing for IgG4 against foods is not recommended as a diagnostic tool: EAACI task force report. Allergy. (2008)
Brostoff J, Gamlin L. Food allergies and food intolerance: the complete guide to their identification and treatment. (2000)
Vojdani A. For the assessment of intestinal permeability, size matters. Altern Ther Health Med. (2013)
Gocki J, Bartuzi Z. Role of immunoglobulin G antibodies in diagnosis of food allergy. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. (2016)

This content is for licensed healthcare practitioners only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical decisions should be based on the full clinical picture and not on any single test result.