By: Jennifer Smith

Antigen Leukocyte

Cellular Antibody Test (ALCAT)

Objectives

Purpose of the tool

History/ Development of the tool

Marketing of the tool

Patient selection criteria

• What to tell our patients in regards to:

Mechanism

Safety of use

Case studies and testimonials

Synopsis of the literature

Conclusion

Purpose of the ALCAT

The ALCAT is used to identify reactions to over 350 foods,

chemicals, and other substances associated with

inflammation and chronic symptoms such as migraines,

joint pain, fatigue, GI disorders, and asthma.1

History/ Development of ALCAT1

The ALCAT was developed by the American Medical

Testing Laboratories and is now marketed by Cell Science

Systems in Deerfield Beach, FL

• Privately held US based biomedical lab

• 20 years in business

• FDA Inspected and Registered

• CLIA Inspected and Licensed

• Robocat II

an automated liquid handling system designed to measure blood cells using the electronic principle of particle counting and sizing

• Awarded 3 Patents

• 20 Labs, 20 Countries, 6 Continents

Marketing of ALCAT1

The procedure was first marketed in 1984 as an in-vitro screening

testing for adverse reactions to specific foods, additives,

colorings, and chemicals.

Since 1986 the original testing methods have been modified

The goal is to offer high quality laboratory testing to healthcare

professionals and their patients, by using a state of the art

technique to provide clients with accurate, timely, and

dependable test results along with nutritional support services.

Cell Science Systems continues to offer an extensive and

growing product lines.

Testing is available in the U.S. as well as the U.K., Italy, Denmark,

Israel, Thailand, South Africa, Spain, Mexico, Greece, Germany,

Singapore, Ukraine, UAE, Saudi Arabia, India and South America

including Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina.

Patient Selection Criteria1

People that would benefit from this form of testing

includes most individuals that are coming to the office

for nutritional counseling

• Most patients learn about the ALCAT from a

functional medical professional

People who have found the allopathic route a dead

end

People with inflammatory and/or undiagnosed varying

symptoms with no certain cause such as

• RA

• Fibromyalgia

• Headaches, Migraines, fatigue

• Joint pain

• Unable to loose weight

• IBS/ IBS like symptoms

What to tell our patients:

Mechanism1,2

It is a whole blood test that detects food and chemical

sensitivities or intolerances

Measures delayed reaction over the course of several

hours after exposure

The test measure changes in size/volume of white blood

cells

Pathways include Immune, Non-Immune,

Pharmacologic, Toxic

Measures the final common pathway of all mechanisms

Sensitivities/Intolerances are not IgE mediated

An indication of cellular inflammatory/ IgG response

ALCAT Can Test For:1

200 Foods: Acorn Squash, Anchovies, Anise seed, Beef liver, Black currant, Bok choy,

Brazil nut, Cardamon, Catfish, Chamomile, Chili pepper, Coriander, Crayfish, Curry,

Endive, Fava bean, Fennel, Flounder, Jalapeno, Kale, Kelp, Leek, Liquorice, Macadamia,

Maple sugar, Mackerel, Mung bean, Mussel, Nectarine, Okra, Parsnip, Pine nut, Phesant,

Pomegranate, Quail, Quinoa, Rhubarb, Romaine lettuce, Rosemary, Sheeps milk, Saffron,

Spelt, Squid, Swiss chard, Swordfish, Tarragon, Turmeric, Venison, Watercress, Zucchini

squash, almond, apple, apricot, artichoke, asparagus, avocado, baker's yeast, banana,

bayleaf, barley, basil, beet, blackberry, black eye pea, black pepper, blueberry, brazil

nut, brewer's yeast, broccoli, brussel sprouts, buckwheat, cabbage, candida albicans,

cane sugar, cantaloupe, caraway, carob, carrot, casein, cashew, cauliflower, cayenne

pepper, celery, cherry, chamomile, chicpea, chili pepper, cinnamon, clove, cocoa,

coconut, coffee, corn, cranberry, cucumber, cumin, curry, date, dill, egg white, egg

yolk, eggplant, endive, fava bean, fig, flaxseed, fructose, garlic, ginger, gliadin, gluten,

grape, grapefruit, green pea, green pepper, hazelnut/filbert, honey, honeydew, hops,

jalepeno, kale, kelp, kidney bean, kiwi, leek, lemon, lentil bean, lettuce, lima bean, lime,

macadamia, malt, mango, maple sugar, milk (cow’s), milk (goat’s), millet, mint, mung

bean, mushroom, mustard, navy bean, nectarine, nutmeg, oat, okra, olive, onion,

orange, oregano, papaya, paprika, parsley, parsnip, peach, peanut, pear, pecan,

pineapple, pine nut, pinto bean, pistachio, plum, pomegranate, pumpkin, psyllium,

radish, raspberry, red pepper, romaine lettuce, rosemary, rhubarb, rice , rye, saffron,

sage, sesame, sheep's milk, soybean, spinach, squash, strawberry, string bean, sunflower,

sweet potato, swiss chard, tapioca, tarragon, tea, thyme, tomato, turnip, turmeric,

vanilla, walnut,watermelon, wheat, whey, white potato, zucchini

ALCAT Can Test For:1

40 Male Herbs: Alfalfa Leaf, American Ginseng, Burdock, Butcher’s Broom

Root, Calendula, Cat's Claw, Catuba, Chaparral, Chondroitin Sulfate, CnidiumMonnier, Damiana, Dong Quai, Fo-ti Root, Glucosamine, Gotu Kola, Horny Goat Weed, Juniper Berry, Korean Ginseng, Lobelia, Lycopene, Maca Root, Mistletoe, Mucuna Pruriens, Muira Puama, Myrrh, Nettle Leaf, Pumpkin Seed, Pygeum Bark, Rehmannia Root, Sarsaparilla, Saw Palmetto, Siberian Ginseng, Skull Cap, Stinging Nettle Root, Tribulus Terrestris, Uva Ursi, Velvet Deer Antler, Yarrow, Yerba Maté, Yohimbe Bark

50 Female Herb Panel: Alfalfa Leaf, Arnica, Black Cohosh, Blessed Thistle, Blue Cohosh, Bupleurum Root, Boswellia, Buchu Leaf, Burdock, Butcher’s Broom Root, Calendula, Cat's Claw, Chaparral Root, Chasteberry, Cramp Bark, Damiana, Dong Quai, Evening Primrose, False Unicorn, Fo-Ti Root, Gotu Kola, Horse Chestnut, Horsetail, Irish Moss, Juniper Berry, Korean Ginseng, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lobelia, Maca Root, Marshmallow Root, Mistletoe, Motherwort,

Myrrh, Nettle Leaf, Pennyroyal, Peony Root, Red Clover, Red Raspberry Leaf, Rehmannia Root, Sarsaparilla, Siberian Ginseng, Skull Cap, Slippery Elm, Squaw Vine, Uva Ursi, White Willow Bark, Wild Yam, Yarrow, Yerba Maté

ALCAT Can Test For:1

50 Functional Foods & Medicinal Herbs: Açai Berry, Agave, Aloe, Ashwagandha, Astragalus, Barley Grass, Bee Pollen, Bilberry,

Black Walnut, Cascara, Chlorella, Dandelion, Echinacea

Angustifolia, Erythritol, Essiac, Feverfew, Ginkgo Biloba, Goji Berry,

Goldenseal, Grape Seed Extract, Guarana Seed, Gymnema

Sylvestre, Hawthorn Berry, Huperzine, Kava Kava , Lutein, Maitake

Mushroom, Mangosteen, Milk Thistle, Mullein Leaf, Noni Berry, Pau

d'Arco Bark, Pine Bark, Red Clover Flower, Red Yeast Rice, Reishi

Mushroom, Resveratrol, Rhodiola, Rooibos Tea, Schizandra Berry,

Senna, Spirulina, St John’s Wort, Stevia Leaf, Valerian,

Vinpocetine, Wheatgrass, Wormwood, Xylitol, Yellow Dock

ALCAT Can Test For:1

10 Food Additive/ 10 Food Colorings: Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Monosodium

Glutamate(Msg), Polysorbate 80, Potassium Nitrate, Potassium Nitrite, Saccharine, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfite, Acid Orange, Blue #1, Blue #2, Brilliant Black, Green #3, Red #1, Red #3, Red #40, Yellow #5, Yellow #6

10 Environmental Chemicals: Ammonium Chloride, Benzene, Chlorine, Ethylene Glycol, Fluoride, Formaldehyde, Nickel Sulfate, Orris Root, Phenol, Toluene

20 Molds Panel: Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botrytis, Candida Albicans, Cephalosporium, Cladosporium, Curvularia Specifera, Epicoccum Nigrum, Fusarium, Helminthosporium, Hormodendrum (Cladosporium), MucorRacemosus, Penicillium, Phoma Herbarum, Pullularia, Rhizopus Nigrican, Rhodotorula (Rubra), Spondylocladium, Sporobolomyces, Trichoderma

10 Antibiotics/ 10 Anti-inflammatories: Advil/Motrin, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin

Sodium, Aspirin, Cephalosporin, Clinoril, Diflunisal, Gentamicin Sulfate, Indocin, Naproxen Sodium, Neomycin Sulfate, Nystatin, Penicillamine Hcl, Penicillin, Piroxicam, Streptomycin Sulfate, Sulfmethoxazole, Tetracycline Hcl, Tylenol, Voltaren

What to tell our patients:

Safety of use The testing only requires a blood draw which is a

minimally invasive procedure1

• Short term side effects can include

temporary discomfort from the needle stick,

bruising, and very rarely infection

• There are no long term repercussions to testing if the

blood draw is performed correctly

Theoretically, if the testing is not accurate it may have

false positive or false negative results which could

impact the patient’s outlook and/or patient care.

What to tell our patients:

Case studies and testimonials1

Website testimonials

“I went to see Dr. Phillip Arnone at The Balanced Body Center …He requested that I take a $583 food allergy test as well as begin a course of chiropractic care. I have to admit I did so with reservations given the expense (which was uninsured and had to be paid up front), and a lack of knowledge about the likely success. Well, the test results came back showing that my body showed reactions to wheat, corn, soy, and rice, four staple foods in the American diet! I also showed reactions to a host of other foods that I commonly ate, including garlic, ginger, mint, cilantro, grapes, and some citrus. I had to basically relearn how to eat and where to shop to get workable foods….Three months later, every one of the lingering MS symptoms I had was gone. Gone! No more tingling hands and feet. No more labored breathing. I was even able to successfully train for and complete the Ramblin' Rose triathlon….”

Kristin from North Carolina

Testimonials

What to tell our patients:

Case studies and testimonials One case study3 demonstrates the use of ALCAT in a

38yof with severe facial dermatitis, candida infection,

and asthma.

She had been given the run-around thought the

medical community with all testing indicating that no

disease was present.

ALCAT results showed reaction with dairy, corn, salmon,

apricot, onion, and garlic.

Removal of these foods from the diet improved all of her

symptoms in 4 weeks and total elimination of symptoms

at the 12 week follow-up.

Synopsis of the literature

For the use of the ALCAT

• The effect of the ALCAT test diet therapy for food

sensitivity in patient’s with obesity4

• Case study

• 27 patients

• ALCAT was performed

• Results indicated intolerances for each patient

• Diet recommendations were made

• After 12 weeks following the diet

• Significant decreases in body weight, total body

fat percent and body mass index was seen

• The ALCAT and an elimination diet were

successful in alleviating many additional

symptoms along with providing weight loss.

Synopsis of the literature Cellular responses to food in irritable bowel syndrome- and

investigation of the ALCAT test5

• Double-blind study with respect to food challenges

• 20 patients

• >3yr hx of IBS

• Examined to r/o major pathology

• Skin testing was performed on all patients only one showed a positive result

• ALCAT performed

• 2 week elimination diet followed by 6 one week food challenges (3 positive,

3 negative) with randomly assigned foods followed by another 6weeks of

exclusion diet.

• Subjects were not aware that the elimination diet only contained negative

foods.

• Diary's were kept through out the process to record problems or reactions

that occurred during the challenges.

• After 14 weeks the subjects were assessed

• Symptoms overall improved, and in 2/3 of subjects improvement was seen

in just 2 weeks.

• The study found the accuracy of the ALCAT 72% for a positive result and

81% for a negative result.

• The study could have been performed better if washout periods were given

between the challenges.

Synopsis of the literature

The short term efficacy of the ALCAT2

• Randomized Controlled Study

• 100 subjects

• Filled out a Disease Symptom Inventory at the

beginning and end of 4 weeks.

• Control group pursued a weight loss program

• Experimental was given the ALCAT results and

dietary guidance

• Experimental group has significant improvements in

body composition and self-reported disease

symptoms.

Synopsis of the literature

Against the use of the ALCAT

• Unproven techniques in allergy diagnosis6

• A review of literature on different allergy

diagnostic tools

• Stated that consensus statements released by

allergy societies throughout the world as well as

the Worlds Allergy Organization do not

recommend the use of this test.

• They also report that the testing is “neither

economical nor useful for diagnosis”

Conclusions At this time the research is still inconclusive

The Allopathic Medical community still stands on the belief that this

testing has not been proven to be accurate

Many testimonials, professional case studies, and even some recent

blinded studies are having positive results.

However, it is still difficult to conclude that the ALCAT evaluation is

accurate.

The only conclusion that can reasonably be made is that positive

sensitivity reactions found by the ALCAT, along with the utilization

an elimination diet, has seemed to be effected for weight loss, IBS,

and relief of many other associated symptoms.

More large scale double blind and RCT need to be done to

sufficiently evaluate the test’s true sensitivity and specificity.

While the testing is rather expensive and results hold no guarantee.

If the individual is at the end of their rope so-to-speak then this may

be a viable alternative for an additional piece of information to the

diagnostic puzzle.

References

1. ALCAT Worldwide. Retrieved on March 9,2010 from: http://www.alcat.com/

2. Kaats, G.R., Pullin, D., Parker, L.K. (1996) The short term efficacy of the ALCAT test of food

sensitivities to facilitate changes in body composition and self-reported disease symptoms:

A randomized controlled study. The Bariatrician. Spring; 18-23.

3. Brady, D.M. Clinical rounds in functional and nutritional medicine. Retrieved on March

9,2010 from: http://www.alcat.com/clinical_info/Case_Studies

4. Akmal, M., Khan, S.A., Khan, A.Q. (2009) The effect of the ALCAT test diet therapy for food

sensitivity in patient’s with obesity. Middle East Journal of Family Medicine. 7(3).

5. Fell, P.J., Soulsby, S., Brostoff, J. (1991) Cellular responses to food in irritable bowel

syndrome- and investigation of the ALCAT test. Journal of Nutritional Medicine. 2; 143-149.

6. University of Zϋrich, Zϋrich Switzerland. (2005). Unproven techniques in allergy diagnosis.

Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology. 15(2); 86-90.