The Yorktest Foodscan food intolerance test has been reviewed in a previous post, and to complement this, I took the plunge into the world of online video making.

To see how to use the test, see the video below:

Labels: intolerance, reviews

There are several food intolerance tests in the marketplace, and generally, Yorktest is considered the best. However, it does come with a heftier price tag. This two-part review investigates the Yorktest FoodScan 113 in more detail.

introduction

At Aqua Viva Health, we perform food intolerance testing and use a 59-food test, which costs £89. Results are obtained within an hour of taking the blood sample and I sit with the client immediately afterwards and discuss the implications of the results. We also offer the Yorktest FoodScan tests, but send the results off for analysis, requiring the client to come back for a second visit.

A simple way to have the Yorktest FoodScan intolerance test is to order it directly on the Internet, and do it as a home test kit – it costs the same and you get the consultation and advice over the telephone direct from Yorktest.

When advising clients which test to have, if they have a good idea what their food intolerance is, it's on the 59-food test, and they just want confirmation, I suggest the £89 kit. However, if they are unsure what is causing their symptoms, I suggest the Yorktest kit instead.

which foods are tested in each test?

Aqua Viva Health in-house test

• Cereals - corn, durum wheat, gluten, oats, rice, rye, wheat
• Nuts and beans - almond, brazil nut, cashew, cocoa bean, olive, peanut, soya bean, walnut
• Meats - beef, chicken, lamb, pork
• Fish - freshwater fish mix (salmon, trout), shellfish mix (shrimp, prawn, crab, lobster, mussel), tuna, white fish mix (haddock, cod, plaice)
• Vegetables - broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, cucumber, leek, legume mix (pea, lentil, haricot), peppers (red, green, yellow), potato
• Fruits - apple, blackcurrant, grapefruit, melon mix (cantaloupe, watermelon), orange and lemon, strawberry, tomato
• Other - whole egg, cows milk, garlic, ginger, mushroom, yeast

Yorktest foodscan test

• Grains - barley , buckwheat, corn (maize) , gliadin (gluten) [not a diagnosis of coeliac disease], millet, oat, rice, rye, wheat
• Dairy - cow’s milk, egg – white, egg – yolk
• Meats - beef, chicken, duck, lamb, pork, turkey
• Fish - crustacean mix (crab, lobster, prawn/shrimp), mollusc mix (mussel, oyster, scallop), oily fish mix (herring, mackerel), plaice/sole, salmon/trout, tuna, white fish mix (cod, haddock)
• Nuts - almond, brazil, cashew, coconut, hazelnut, peanut, walnut
• Vegetables - asparagus, aubergine, avocado, carrot, celery, cucumber, haricot bean, kidney bean, lentils, lettuce, mushroom, mustard mix (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower), onion, pea, peppers(capsicum)/paprika, potato, soya bean, spinach, string bean
• Fruits - apple, apricot, banana, blackberry, blackcurrant, cherry, cranberry, grape, grapefruit, kiwi, lemon, lime, melon mix(cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon), orange, peach, pear, pineapple, plum, raspberry, strawberry, tomato
• Herbs/spices - chilli pepper, cinnamon/clove, coriander/cumin/dill, garlic, ginger, mint mix (basil, mint, sage, thyme), mustard seed, nutmeg/peppercorn, parsley, sesame seed, vanilla
• Other - carob, cocoa bean, coffee, cola nut, hops, sunflower seed, tea, yeast (brewers and bakers)

receiving the Yorktest pack

After placing the order, my foodSCAN pack arrived really quickly from Yorktest through the Royal Mail. The contents were:

1. Introductory letter giving an overview of the entire procedure.
2. Customer Details form pre-filled with my details:
   1. These needed checking for accuracy, and a few more boxes filling in e.g. date of birth, symptoms, and ensuring that I'm not on any unsuitable medication that could stop the test from working.
   2. Signature, date and marketing opt-out required.
3. Yorktest marker pen - I'm not quite sure why this was sent, but free pens are always a bonus!
4. Test kit:
   1. Sleeve with a few testimonials and a list of what you get with the test results:
      1. Lab analysis test results
      2. Support pack including guidebook, food diary and recipes
      3. 1 year free membership to Allergy UK
      4. Two free telephone memberships with a qualified nutritionist
      5. Re-tests at discounted prices
   2. Green plastic case:
      1. Instruction leaflet
      2. Blood collection kit:
         1. antiseptic wipe
         2. single-use lancet
         3. absorbent wand and container
         4. plaster
   3. Prepaid return envelope for the sample.

first impressions of the Yorktest pack

I felt it was a well organised pack without complicated instructions. The green plastic case was difficult to get into though – one clip came undone easily, I nearly broke a nail on the other (and yes that is a very girly thing to say!).

I was impressed that the telephone number provided (if you needed further help) was a freephone number – a lot of companies give you a national rate number to call, especially after they've taken your money!

Instructions were clear, although I had doubts as to the relevancy of a plaster as further instructions stated to take the sample from a finger or thumb tip – an awkward place to put a plaster if you've ever tried.

I also wondered what would happen if the lancet was misused, didn't work, or not enough blood was collected the first time. They are single use devices, whereby the needle retracts so it cannot physically be used again. Perhaps two lancets in the kit would be better.

The instructions also stated to return all parts of the test kit – both the used lancet and sample so that everything could be disposed of in the right way, which was a nice feature. It prevents a small child or pet getting hold of anything they shouldn't do.

the test itself

Admittedly, I am a bit of a wimp, so wasn't looking forward to the finger prick blood test. I firstly ensure the form was filled out correctly, then laid everything out for the test itself and had a quick read of the instruction sheet. It was very straightforward and the test itself only took a few minutes – rinse hands in warm water (to ensure the blood is flowing properly!), then clean the finger with the sterile wipe provided. The sterile wipe wasn't the nicest smelling thing in the world, but washing my hands afterwards soon sorted that out.

Twist the cap off the lancet then hold it firmly against the finger tip and press the plunger. I also realised that unscrewing the lid of the container with the absorbable wand in first, would be easier than when I had blood on my finger.

I chose the middle of the pad on my middle finger, and perhaps this was slightly more painful than if I had gone more to the side. It was a very slight pinprick in the end though – the anticipation was much worse than the actual event! By squeezing the finger, a small drop of blood had formed, and I started 'mopping up' with the wand. It was a very easy method – much easier than using a capillary tube, and by squeezing/massaging the finger, the wand was filled really quickly.

When putting the wand back in the container I noticed that on the instruction leaflet, the container had a name written on, but there was no mention of labelling it with your name in the instructions – I guess that's where the free marker pen comes in.

I put the used lancet and sample in the green plastic case and put it in the return envelope with my customer details form and dropped it in the letter box.

Let's see how long I have to wait until the results come back…

Part two of this Yorktest FoodScan113 review will be posted on the blog shortly. (Why not subscribe by RSS reader or e-mail so you don't miss it?)

Labels: intolerance, reviews