Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFood SensitivityHow Does MRT Work?What to ExpectInterpreting the ResultsLEAP Elimination DietOther TestsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Food Sensitivity
How Does MRT Work?
What to Expect
Interpreting the Results
LEAP Elimination Diet
Other Tests
Frequently Asked Questions
The Mediator Release Test (MRT) is a type of blood test used to test your body’s reactions to 0ver 170 foods and food additives. It is a patented test from Oxford Biomedical Technologies, Inc.
This article will explore which food sensitivities can be tested, how the MRT test works, what you can expect from testing, how to interpret the results, and the next steps regarding the Lifestyle, Eating, and Performance (LEAP) elimination diet. You’ll also learn what other types of food sensitivity testing may be available.
Sheila Alonso / Getty Images
What Are Food Sensitivities?
The term “food sensitivity” is often used to refer to food intolerances. It is not an established medical diagnosis.For the purposes of this article, a food sensitivity can be thought of as an immune system response to food or a food additive that doesn’t rise to the level of a foodallergy, which can be life-threatening.
Common food sensitivities include:
11 of the Most Common Food Intolerances
Food Intolerance
Symptoms of Food Intolerance
Food Allergies
Symptoms associated with food allergies include breathing problems (which can be life-threatening) and skin reactions like rashes.
Type 2 Sensitivities (Cytotoxic)
Type 2 sensitivities (cytotoxic) refers to a specific antibody response that leads to cell or tissue damage, destruction, and cell behavior dysfunction. Reactions of this type have a gradual rather than immediate onset.
Type 3 Sensitivities (Immune Complex)
The third type of sensitivity usually occurs after at least one exposure to a substance. The immune response here is different because it leads to an antigen-antibody aggregate or bond called immune complexes. Immune complexes remain even after the substance has left the body. They can be found in skin, joints, and vessels, and can cause tissue damage, like inrheumatoid arthritis.
How Does the MRT Test Work?
In an MRT, you’ll haveblood drawn, likely from your arm. This blood sample will be tested for a reaction to common foods associated with sensitivities.
Do Not Use MRT Testing for a Food AllergyMRT testing has yet to be proven to be valid and reliable. If you suspect you have a food allergy, you should see an allergist first to rule out an IgE-related food allergy, especially since a food allergy can be life-threatening. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, an organization of food and nutrition professionals, has released a practice paper stating that MRT should not be used for testing for food allergies.
Do Not Use MRT Testing for a Food Allergy
MRT testing has yet to be proven to be valid and reliable. If you suspect you have a food allergy, you should see an allergist first to rule out an IgE-related food allergy, especially since a food allergy can be life-threatening. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, an organization of food and nutrition professionals, has released a practice paper stating that MRT should not be used for testing for food allergies.
If you’ve decided to get the MRT test, you will need to reach out to a certified LEAP therapist. You may also decide to contact Oxford Biomedical Technologies directly for testing options. Either way, you can expect a blood test to be administered.
The MRT test may occur in a travel lab, mobile blood draw clinic, an independent draw site, or at the Oxford clinic in Miami, Florida. Locationscan be found on the company website. You can expect a notification when your test results are ready for review.
Interpreting the results of the MRT is fairly straightforward. The foods and food additives will be shown in a diagram like a bar graph. They may be colored green, yellow, red, or in shades of gray if printed. There will be three sections the bar could flow into and include:
The LEAP elimination diet is based on the results of your MRT test. The goal of the LEAP diet is to calm the immune system. Like other elimination diets, the LEAP diet has different phases.
During the first phase, yellow and red foods are eliminated for a period of time to reduce inflammation and achieve a reduction in symptoms. Once this is achieved, eliminated foods or food groups are slowly reintroduced into the diet one at a time while closely monitoring for the return of symptoms. The goal during this phase is to identify more “safe” foods or safe amounts of food.
The final phase includes continuing to expand and “challenge” yellow and red foods to build a balanced diet that also calms the immune system.
How Food Intolerance Is Treated
Other Types of Food Sensitivity Testing
Blood tests for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies are common for diagnosing exposure to bacterial or viral infections. but they are unproven in testing for food allergies or sensitivities. Unlike IgE antibodies, the presence of food-specific IgG antibodies is not associated with a food allergy or sensitivity.There’s a lack of evidence to support making dietary changes based on these tests.
It’s important to note that no single test can give you what is often marketed, sometimes including a clear answer and solution about food sensitivity or allergy.
If you have questions about the MRT test or LEAP diet, consider speaking with a healthcare provider about your current symptoms first. Some symptoms may be associated with other health conditions. Your healthcare provider may be able to help you determine the cause of your symptoms and refer you to a dietitian for further assistance.
Summary
The MRT test is unproven and unstandardized, according to a committee of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health.
Result times vary based on test location. Consider asking in advance or at the appointment time at the draw location site when you can reasonably expect to receive results.
MRT test costs vary based on where you get the test done and how many foods you are testing for. Prices are subject to change at any time, according to the company website.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Are food sensitivity tests accurate?.Food Allergy Research & Education.Common allergens.Bajwa SF, Mohammed RHA.Type II hypersensitivity reaction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island(FL): StatPearls Publishing. Note: StatPearls appropriate here.Usman N, Annamaraju P.Type III hypersensitivity reaction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Adamczak DM.The clinical use of mediator release test in food sensitivities.Journal of Food Science and Engineering. 2018;1:61-63. doi:10.17265/2159-5828/2018.01.007Boyce JA, Assa’ad A, et al.Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of food allergy in the United States: summary of the NIAID-sponsored expert panel report.Nutr Res. 2011;31(1):61-75. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2011.01.001Kelso JM.Unproven diagnostic tests for adverse reactions to foods.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018;6(2):362-365. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2017.08.021Myszkowska D, Zapała B, Bulanda M, Czarnobilska E.Non-IgE mediated hypersensitivity to food products or food intolerance-problems of appropriate diagnostics.Medicina (Kaunas). 2021;57(11):1245. doi:10.3390/medicina57111245Collins SC.Practice paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: role of the registered dietitian nutritionist in the diagnosis and management of food allergies.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2016;116(10):1621-1631. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2016.07.018American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Food allergy testing and diagnosis.American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.The myth of IgG food panel testing.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Are food sensitivity tests accurate?.Food Allergy Research & Education.Common allergens.Bajwa SF, Mohammed RHA.Type II hypersensitivity reaction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island(FL): StatPearls Publishing. Note: StatPearls appropriate here.Usman N, Annamaraju P.Type III hypersensitivity reaction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Adamczak DM.The clinical use of mediator release test in food sensitivities.Journal of Food Science and Engineering. 2018;1:61-63. doi:10.17265/2159-5828/2018.01.007Boyce JA, Assa’ad A, et al.Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of food allergy in the United States: summary of the NIAID-sponsored expert panel report.Nutr Res. 2011;31(1):61-75. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2011.01.001Kelso JM.Unproven diagnostic tests for adverse reactions to foods.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018;6(2):362-365. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2017.08.021Myszkowska D, Zapała B, Bulanda M, Czarnobilska E.Non-IgE mediated hypersensitivity to food products or food intolerance-problems of appropriate diagnostics.Medicina (Kaunas). 2021;57(11):1245. doi:10.3390/medicina57111245Collins SC.Practice paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: role of the registered dietitian nutritionist in the diagnosis and management of food allergies.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2016;116(10):1621-1631. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2016.07.018American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Food allergy testing and diagnosis.American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.The myth of IgG food panel testing.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Are food sensitivity tests accurate?.Food Allergy Research & Education.Common allergens.Bajwa SF, Mohammed RHA.Type II hypersensitivity reaction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island(FL): StatPearls Publishing. Note: StatPearls appropriate here.Usman N, Annamaraju P.Type III hypersensitivity reaction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Adamczak DM.The clinical use of mediator release test in food sensitivities.Journal of Food Science and Engineering. 2018;1:61-63. doi:10.17265/2159-5828/2018.01.007Boyce JA, Assa’ad A, et al.Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of food allergy in the United States: summary of the NIAID-sponsored expert panel report.Nutr Res. 2011;31(1):61-75. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2011.01.001Kelso JM.Unproven diagnostic tests for adverse reactions to foods.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018;6(2):362-365. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2017.08.021Myszkowska D, Zapała B, Bulanda M, Czarnobilska E.Non-IgE mediated hypersensitivity to food products or food intolerance-problems of appropriate diagnostics.Medicina (Kaunas). 2021;57(11):1245. doi:10.3390/medicina57111245Collins SC.Practice paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: role of the registered dietitian nutritionist in the diagnosis and management of food allergies.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2016;116(10):1621-1631. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2016.07.018American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Food allergy testing and diagnosis.American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.The myth of IgG food panel testing.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Are food sensitivity tests accurate?.
Food Allergy Research & Education.Common allergens.
Bajwa SF, Mohammed RHA.Type II hypersensitivity reaction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island(FL): StatPearls Publishing. Note: StatPearls appropriate here.
Usman N, Annamaraju P.Type III hypersensitivity reaction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Adamczak DM.The clinical use of mediator release test in food sensitivities.Journal of Food Science and Engineering. 2018;1:61-63. doi:10.17265/2159-5828/2018.01.007
Boyce JA, Assa’ad A, et al.Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of food allergy in the United States: summary of the NIAID-sponsored expert panel report.Nutr Res. 2011;31(1):61-75. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2011.01.001
Kelso JM.Unproven diagnostic tests for adverse reactions to foods.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018;6(2):362-365. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2017.08.021
Myszkowska D, Zapała B, Bulanda M, Czarnobilska E.Non-IgE mediated hypersensitivity to food products or food intolerance-problems of appropriate diagnostics.Medicina (Kaunas). 2021;57(11):1245. doi:10.3390/medicina57111245
Collins SC.Practice paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: role of the registered dietitian nutritionist in the diagnosis and management of food allergies.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2016;116(10):1621-1631. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2016.07.018
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Food allergy testing and diagnosis.
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.The myth of IgG food panel testing.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
