Is IgG food testing endorsed by allergy and gastroenterology organisations?

No. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology state that IgG antibodies to foods are a physiological response to consumption and do not predict clinical food intolerance. The test is positioned within functional medicine as an exploratory tool, not a diagnostic gold standard.

How are the results used in clinical practice?

Results are reported as a reactivity profile across 184 foods. Practitioners use high or moderate IgG reactivity to design a targeted elimination diet, removing those foods for 4–12 weeks and monitoring symptoms. Improvement followed by symptom recurrence on rechallenge supports a causal link; lack of response suggests the IgG was incidental.

Can the test be done if I am already avoiding suspected foods?

IgG titres decline when a food is eliminated, so testing after prolonged avoidance may yield false-negative results. Ideally, continue eating a varied diet for several weeks before collection, unless doing so causes severe symptoms.

Is fasting required for this test?

No. The dried blood spot can be collected at any time of day without fasting.

How is the sample collected?

The patient pricks a fingertip using the supplied lancet and applies drops of capillary blood to circles on a specimen card. The card is air-dried and posted back to the laboratory in the prepaid mailer. Detailed instructions are included in the kit.

How long do results take?

Results are typically available 10–14 business days from receipt at Alletess Medical Laboratory, plus 3–5 days for postal transit.

BML-FSA-014food sensitivity allergyUSA

184 IgG Food Sensitivity Panel

Q: Should I eliminate all foods that show elevated IgG?

Not necessarily. Eliminating a long list of foods risks nutritional inadequacy and disordered eating. Prioritise the highest-reactive foods and work with a dietitian or clinician to design a sustainable trial. Reintroduce foods systematically to assess true clinical reactivity.

Q: Are results from different laboratories comparable?

No. IgG food assays are not standardised across vendors. Results from Alletess cannot be directly compared to those from other platforms, and reference ranges differ by laboratory and assay lot.

The 184 IgG Food Sensitivity Panel measures serum IgG reactivity to 184 dietary antigens via ELISA on a dried blood spot, used in functional medicine to identify candidate foods for elimination trials in patients with unexplained chronic symptoms. Mainstream allergy and gastroenterology societies do not endorse IgG food testing as diagnostic.

Biomarkers

Dried blood spot

Sample

10–14 business days

Turnaround

Fasting

What is the 184 IgG Food Panel test?

The 184 IgG Food Sensitivity Panel measures serum IgG reactivity to a broad array of common and less-common dietary antigens via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on a dried blood spot. It is ordered by practitioners exploring potential food triggers in patients with unexplained chronic symptoms — particularly gastrointestinal complaints, migraine, fatigue, joint pain, or skin manifestations — where standard allergy testing (IgE) and coeliac serology have been unrevealing and an elimination diet has not yet been systematically attempted. This panel sits within the functional and integrative medicine paradigm rather than conventional allergology. The rationale is that non-IgE-mediated, delayed food reactions may drive chronic inflammation and symptom patterns that do not present as acute allergy, and that identifying and removing high-IgG foods for a defined period may improve symptoms. Practitioners use the results to design a targeted elimination-and-rechallenge protocol, monitoring for symptomatic improvement and reintroducing foods in a structured fashion. Because the clinical utility and mechanistic basis of IgG food testing remain debated, the panel is positioned as hypothesis-generating — a map for personalised dietary trials — not a diagnostic gold standard.

What does the 184 IgG Food Panel test measure?

IgG(Immunoglobulin G Antibodies to Food Antigens)

Range: Laboratory-specific categorical classification: negative, borderline, mild, moderate, or elevated reactivity for each of 184 food antigens.Optimal: Not applicable. Results are reported as a reactivity profile across 184 antigens; interpretation is individualised, with higher-reactive foods considered candidates for therapeutic elimination trials. No universally accepted 'optimal' IgG titre exists.Arbitrary units (AU) / U/mL

IgG is the most abundant serum immunoglobulin, mediating long-term immune memory and contributing to type III hypersensitivity reactions through immune-complex formation. In the context of food, IgG antibodies recognise dietary antigens and may reflect either tolerance (IgG4 subclass) or sensitisation (IgG1–3 subclasses). Their presence does not necessarily imply clinical reactivity; IgG to foods can be detected in healthy individuals as a marker of repeated exposure, and the relationship between IgG titre and symptoms is contested in mainstream immunology.

Proponents of IgG food-sensitivity testing argue that elevated IgG to specific foods may identify delayed, non-IgE-mediated adverse reactions contributing to gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, fatigue, and inflammatory conditions, and that dietary elimination guided by IgG results can reduce symptom burden. Mainstream allergy and gastroenterology societies, including the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, state that IgG antibodies to foods are a physiological response to exposure and do not predict clinical food intolerance or allergy, and should not be used to diagnose food-related symptoms. The test is positioned as a functional-medicine tool for personalised elimination-diet planning rather than a diagnostic standard of care.

Why is the 184 IgG Food Panel test ordered?

Patients with chronic, unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms (bloating, altered bowel habit, abdominal discomfort) not meeting criteria for irritable bowel syndrome or where standard work-up has been non-diagnostic
Recurrent migraine or tension-type headache unresponsive to conventional triggers and prophylaxis, where dietary influence is suspected
Persistent fatigue, brain fog, or fibromyalgia-type symptoms in which inflammatory or immune mechanisms are postulated and dietary modification has not been trialled
Chronic inflammatory conditions — including some rheumatological and dermatological presentations — where dietary elimination is part of an integrative treatment strategy
Patients seeking a structured, evidence-guided elimination protocol who have previously found broad dietary restrictions unsustainable or difficult to interpret
Paediatric populations with developmental, behavioural, or gastrointestinal concerns in which food reactivity is hypothesised, interpreted with caution and supervised dietary changes

Sample collection and turnaround

Sample type

Dried blood spot

Fasting required

Collection method

Finger prick

Turnaround

10–14 business days

Collection notes

Patient self-collection at home using the Alletess kit. Fingertip is lanced, and drops of capillary blood are applied to the specimen card, allowed to air-dry, and returned by post. The kit includes detailed instructions, lancets, and a prepaid return mailer. Hands should be warm and clean; massage the finger to encourage blood flow. Ensure the spots are fully saturated and allowed to dry completely before sealing the card. Do not refrigerate or freeze the dried card.

Specimen requirements

Minimum four fully saturated circles (approximately 50 µL per spot). Incomplete or insufficient spots may require recollection. The dried card is stable at ambient temperature for several weeks but should be posted promptly.

What can affect 184 IgG Food Panel results?

reducesRecent strict elimination of suspected foods

IgG titres wane in the absence of antigenic exposure, so an elimination diet undertaken before testing may lower reactivity and mask foods that were previously problematic.

reducesImmunodeficiency or immunosuppressive therapy

Patients on corticosteroids, biologics, or with hypogammaglobulinaemia may mount blunted IgG responses, reducing the sensitivity of the assay.

elevatesIncreased intestinal permeability

Conditions that compromise gut-barrier integrity (enteropathy, dysbiosis, inflammatory bowel disease) may permit greater antigen translocation and higher IgG titres to a wide range of foods, potentially yielding a polysensitised pattern with reduced specificity.

variableRecent acute infection or vaccination

Polyclonal B-cell activation or cross-reactive epitopes can transiently alter IgG profiles; ideally test during a stable clinical period.

variableSpecimen quality and collection technique

Insufficient blood volume, delayed drying, or contamination of the dried spot can affect assay performance; follow the kit instructions carefully and note any collection difficulties.

variableLaboratory platform and lot variation

IgG food assays are not standardised across laboratories; results from Alletess cannot be directly compared to those from other vendors, and intra-laboratory lot changes may affect cut-offs.

What do 184 IgG Food Panel results mean?

Elevated

High or moderate IgG reactivity to specific foods suggests repeated antigenic exposure and immune recognition. In the functional-medicine framework this is interpreted as a candidate for elimination, and those foods are removed for 4–12 weeks while monitoring symptoms. A positive clinical response followed by symptom recurrence on rechallenge supports a causal link; lack of improvement suggests the elevated IgG is an incidental marker of consumption rather than a driver of pathology.

Normal

Borderline or equivocal results may be repeated after continued consumption or included in a second-phase elimination if initial high-reactive foods do not fully account for symptoms.

Reduced

Absent or low IgG to a given food indicates either minimal exposure or a non-reactive immune profile. These foods are generally retained in the diet unless clinical suspicion or other testing suggests otherwise.

Note: Elevated IgG does not equate to clinical intolerance — many healthy individuals show IgG to commonly eaten foods. The panel is a tool for designing elimination trials, not a diagnostic endpoint. Mainstream allergy and gastroenterology guidelines do not endorse IgG testing for food intolerance, and results must be contextualised within a broader assessment that includes diet history, symptom diary, and exclusion of organic disease. Long elimination lists risk nutritional inadequacy and disordered eating patterns, so prioritise the highest-reactive foods and work with a dietitian where possible.

Frequently asked questions

IgE mediates immediate, acute allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis or urticaria and is the recognised diagnostic standard for true food allergy. IgG is proposed to reflect delayed, non-IgE-mediated sensitivity, though mainstream allergy societies regard IgG as a marker of exposure rather than intolerance.

How to access the 184 IgG Food Panel test

The 184 IgG Food Panel 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. EAACI task force on immunological tests for food allergy: testing for IgG4 against foods is not recommended as a diagnostic tool. Allergy. (2008)
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology position statement on unproven diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for allergic disorders. (2021)
Irritable bowel syndrome in adults: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline [NG12]. (2023)
Coucke F. Food intolerance in patients with manifest autoimmunity. Observational study. Autoimmun Rev. (2018)
Zar S, et al. Food-specific serum IgG4 and IgE titers to common food antigens in irritable bowel syndrome. Am J Gastroenterol. (2005)

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.