Food Sensitivities & Allergy Testing

Why Measure IgG4 Antibodies?

Meridian Valley Lab measures food-specific IgG4 antibodies using the ELISA method for the assessment of delayed food allergies. Our strength is providing a clinically robust test because of what we measure—IgG4—and how we measure it.

IgG has four subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4). Under chronic allergen exposure, IgG4 levels increase dramatically, creating a strong IgG4 response. IgG4 has a very high affinity for food allergens without triggering non-specific complement cascades—making IgG4, rather than Total IgG, ideal for assessing chronic food sensitivities with fewer false positives.

Furthermore, unlike most labs that only run a single batch control, Meridian Valley Lab runs both high and low batch controls AND individual patient controls for each specimen, with reference ranges validated for each individual antigen.

Common Symptoms & The Candida Screen

Delayed food sensitivities can affect virtually any organ system. Common conditions associated with elevated IgG4 food antibodies include:

• • Gastrointestinal: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, bloating, gallbladder discomfort
• • Dermatologic & Respiratory: Eczema, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, chronic sinusitis, childhood asthma
• • Neurological, Pediatric & Systemic: Migraine headaches, chronic fatigue, joint pain, ADHD, childhood bedwetting (enuresis)
• • The Candida Screen: Candida albicans is a yeast normally found in small amounts in the human intestinal tract. Internal MVL studies show a strong correlation between “Moderate” or “High” antibodies on our Candida Screen and clinical indicators of intestinal Candida overgrowth.