https://www.vetsurgeon.org/f/clinical-questions/29095/is-there-any-value-in-running-lab-tests-for-food-allergens Is there any value in running lab tests for food allergens? en-USTelligent Community 10https://www.vetsurgeon.org/thread/222562?ContentTypeID=1Thu, 14 May 2020 08:38:21 GMT146601cc-3922-4be7-9974-7e1d4e45a66b:9aa2f413-b694-45ac-989f-368215d363cdMark Craig<p>Not only are the tests for food allergy unreliable, but the rationale for testing in the first place is questionable as non-immunological food intolerance is probably more common in dogs than true dietary hypersensitivity, and could well be a a much more important factor in canine pruritus.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>https://www.vetsurgeon.org/thread/222546?ContentTypeID=1Wed, 13 May 2020 19:19:21 GMT146601cc-3922-4be7-9974-7e1d4e45a66b:53a256be-e7a6-4193-9e02-8f90142ad3e9David Bentley<p>Simple answer -&nbsp; No, unless you look at the negatives, which have about an 80% predictive value.&nbsp; I would not do them to try and diagnose food alllergy, where an 8 week exclusion diet of novel protein or ultrahydrolysed diet such as Anallergenic should be done.&nbsp; It may be possibly of some use after food allergy has been confirmed, just to look at the negatives with a view of chossing those first for provocative testing,&nbsp; if the owner is willing to pay&nbsp; and the animal is not liking the exclusion dietand they are desparate to find alternatives as quickly as possible.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>