Food Sensitivity Testing Melbourne
Comprehensive food allergy and intolerance testing identifying the specific dietary triggers behind chronic gut symptoms, skin conditions, and systemic inflammation
IgG and IgA
Antibody panels
200+ Foods
Tested per panel
Blood-Based
Via pathology referral
Telehealth
Available Australia-wide
No referral required. Available in-clinic and via telehealth across Australia.
Food Allergy, Intolerance, and Sensitivity: What Is the Difference?
The terms food allergy, food intolerance, and food sensitivity are often used interchangeably but describe different physiological mechanisms. The distinction matters because each requires a different testing approach and different management.
Food Allergy (IgE-Mediated)
A true food allergy involves an immediate IgE antibody response triggering the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators. Symptoms appear within minutes to two hours and can range from hives and swelling to anaphylaxis. IgE-mediated food allergies are managed by an allergist and diagnosed through skin prick testing or IgE blood panels. If you suspect a serious food allergy with acute reactions, this requires allergist assessment, not naturopathic testing.
Food Intolerance
A food intolerance involves the digestive system rather than the immune system. The body cannot properly digest or process a specific food component, producing symptoms including bloating, gas, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain. Lactose intolerance and fructose malabsorption are common examples. Intolerances do not involve antibody responses and are typically identified through elimination protocols or breath testing rather than blood panels.
Food Sensitivity (IgG and IgA-Mediated)
Food sensitivities involve delayed IgG and IgA antibody responses producing chronic low-grade immune activation rather than immediate reactions. Symptoms appear hours to days after eating the reactive food, making them extremely difficult to identify through dietary observation alone. They are associated with chronic gut symptoms, skin conditions, fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, and mood disturbance. IgG and IgA food sensitivity panels are the testing approach used at Vital Health.
Symptoms That Suggest Food Sensitivities Are Present
The following symptoms are commonly driven by unidentified food sensitivities. Their pattern, particularly the delayed onset and chronic nature, is what distinguishes food sensitivity from food allergy.
- Chronic bloating, gas, and abdominal distension
- Alternating constipation and diarrhoea without a structural explanation
- Nausea and reflux that persists despite dietary attempts
- IBS symptoms that have not improved with standard dietary protocols including low-FODMAP
- Symptoms that are difficult to link to specific foods because reactions occur hours or days later
- Skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, acne, and unexplained rashes
- Joint pain and stiffness without a structural diagnosis
- Chronic fatigue and post-meal energy crashes
- Persistent brain fog and poor concentration
- Headaches and migraines with a dietary connection
- Mood changes, anxiety, and irritability linked to eating patterns
- Recurrent sinus congestion and respiratory symptoms
- Food sensitivities that appear to be expanding over time
What the Food Sensitivity Panel Measures
IgG Food Reaction Panel
Measures IgG antibody responses to a comprehensive panel of foods including dairy products, grains, eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds, meats, seafood, fruits, vegetables, and common additives. IgG reactions are delayed and produce chronic immune activation rather than acute allergic responses. Elevated IgG reactions to specific foods indicate chronic immune stimulation that is sustaining systemic inflammation.
IgA Food Reaction Panel
Measures IgA antibody responses in the gut mucosa, the frontline immune system of the digestive tract. Elevated IgA reactions indicate immune activation specifically within the gut lining. Used alongside IgG testing to identify foods driving gut-based immune responses that may not appear significantly on IgG testing alone.
Comprehensive Panel Coverage
- Dairy including milk, cheese, yoghurt, casein, and whey
- Grains including wheat, gluten, rye, barley, oats, corn, and rice
- Eggs and egg proteins
- Legumes including soy, peanuts, chickpeas, and lentils
- Tree nuts including almonds, cashews, walnuts, and hazelnuts
- Seafood including fish and shellfish varieties
- Meats including beef, chicken, pork, and lamb
- Fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices
- Common additives including yeast, food colourings, and preservatives
How Food Sensitivity Testing Works
Step 1
Consultation
Domenic reviews your symptom pattern, dietary history, and previous test results. He determines whether IgG testing, IgA testing, or both are most relevant and issues a pathology referral for the appropriate panel.
Step 2
Blood Test
A standard blood draw at a pathology centre near you. Continue eating normally before the test including any reactive foods. Eliminating suspected foods before testing can suppress antibody levels and produce false negatives.
STEP 3
Results and Protocol
Results identify which specific foods are producing elevated antibody responses. Domenic reviews findings in a consultation and provides a structured elimination and reintroduction protocol based directly on your results.
Continue eating normally before testing. Do not eliminate suspected foods before the blood draw.
Why Food Sensitivity Testing Through a Naturopath
Food sensitivity testing ordered through Domenic at Vital Health is not just a panel result. The clinical value is in interpreting the findings in the context of your gut health, immune function, and overall health history, then designing a structured elimination and reintroduction protocol that addresses the underlying drivers of the sensitivity rather than simply removing reactive foods indefinitely.
Many clients who have already tried elimination diets without resolution find that food sensitivity testing identifies reactions to foods they had not suspected, or confirms that their existing eliminations are insufficient. The test result is the starting point, not the end point. It informs which foods to remove, in what sequence to reintroduce them, and what gut repair work needs to happen alongside the dietary changes for sensitivities to reduce over time.
Related Testing and Services
Food sensitivities frequently coexist with gut dysbiosis, intestinal permeability, and autoimmune activity. The following pages cover testing and services that are commonly used alongside food sensitivity testing at Vital Health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Naturopaths can order IgG and IgA food sensitivity panels through pathology referral. At Vital Health, Domenic Pisanelli orders comprehensive food sensitivity panels and interprets the results in the context of your gut health, immune function, and symptom history. Note that IgE-mediated food allergy testing for serious immediate allergic reactions is managed by allergists, not naturopaths.
At Vital Health, food sensitivity testing uses IgG and IgA antibody panels via a standard blood draw at a pathology centre. The panel measures immune reactions to over 200 foods. Results identify which specific foods are producing elevated antibody responses, which Domenic then uses to design a structured elimination and gut repair protocol.
A comprehensive food sensitivity panel at Vital Health measures IgG and IgA antibody responses to a broad range of foods including dairy, grains, eggs, legumes, nuts, seafood, meats, fruits, vegetables, and common additives. It differs from a standard allergy test, which measures IgE responses to common allergens only. The comprehensive panel identifies the delayed reactions that standard allergy tests do not assess.
The cost of food sensitivity testing at Vital Health depends on which panel is most appropriate for your presentation. Contact the clinic directly or book a free discovery call for current pricing. The test is ordered through a naturopathic consultation with Domenic and pathology costs are separate from consultation fees.
Not on its own. Food sensitivities develop because the gut barrier has become permeable, allowing partially digested food proteins to enter the bloodstream and trigger immune responses. Removing reactive foods reduces the immune burden and symptom load, but the underlying gut permeability needs to be addressed for sensitivities to reduce over time. This is why gut repair work through the GI Microbiome Map and targeted gut healing protocols is typically recommended alongside dietary elimination.
Book a Food Sensitivity Assessment
Book a free 20-minute discovery call with Domenic to discuss your symptoms and whether food sensitivity testing is the right next step. Available in-clinic at Kealba or via telehealth across Australia. No referral required.