Frequently Asked Questions

Is the test rebateable on Medicare or through private health funds?

Unfortunately as the ImuPro test is still fairly new in Australia there are currently no medical rebates available for it because it does take many years to get rebates set up.  ImuPro is a worldwide company and the test has been used extensively in Europe since 2000.  We have been operating in Australia since 2005. 

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Can I have the test done if I am on a restricted diet?

Yes you can still take the test if you are on a restricted diet.  However your reactions to the foods that you have been avoiding will be much lower than if you were on an unrestricted diet so you just need to be aware of this.

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Can children or babies take the test?

Children over 12 months of age can take the ImuPro test.

If the child is under 12 months old we recommend that the mother is tested as she can inadvertently pass her antibodies on to the child through breast feeding and the placenta.

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I am on antibiotics. Will this affect my results?

Provided you are not taking immunosuppresant drugs, your results will not be affected by being on a short course of antibiotics.

A long course of antibiotics can compromise the intestinal flora and may cause a higher number of reactions to be detected.  If you are currently taking any medication you should advise the ImuPro team just to be certain.

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Is there any need to be re-tested down the track?

No, this is not normally necessary.  Even if a retest does not detect particular antibodies, this does not mean that you can recommence eating foods or additives to which an intolerance was detected.

The immune system has a memory and reactivates the production of antibodies when it comes in contact with a food or additive to which it previously had a reaction.

However, the production of antibodies is generally reduced through implementing dietary changes to cut out offending foods.

The test would only need to be repeated if the symptoms re-occur, although this is unlikely if you are keeping to your diet and rotation plan instructions.

If the test is repeated, we recommend at least a two year wait between tests.

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How reliable is the ImuPro test?

The reliability of the test is proven by over 100,000 performed tests with a satisfaction score of over 90%.

The test is performed using the ELISA method which is a well-established standard procedure in laboratory analysis. Our results are reliable and reproducible and are checked through regular quality controls in labs across different countries.

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Your offices are in Sydney - how can I take the test if I live in other parts of Australia, New Zealand or USA?

To take the test you only need to have a blood sample taken at a pathology lab and then send it to us.  We can advise you of the nearest pathology centre anywhere in Australia or New Zealand and provide you with the correct paperwork.  If you are in the United States you will need to contact us prior to ordering your test as some US States have different restrictions and procedures.

Your blood sample is shipped to our labs in Germany where the test is done and you will have your results and individual diet plan sent to you within 10 to 14 days.

You don’t need a referral from a GP.  You just need to take the request form which we can provide to you by e-mail or post, as well as a clear procedure checklist that we also provide.

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Will my blood serum sample be spoilt during transit?

No. Your blood sample will be specially prepared by pathology (a process called “centrifuging”). This process ensures that the clear liquid serum is separated from the blood solids. The serum is what we require for testing and is stable at room temperature for up to 7 days.  It can also be frozen for up to 6 months without being spoilt.

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My general practitioner performed a standard allergy test on me. Why does the result not correspond to the result of the ImuPro Test?

The ImuPro test detects food intolerance responses which may occur between 8 and 72 hours after the consumption of the offending food or additive.  These food intolerances are mediated by a build-up of IgG antibodies in the blood.

Standard allergy tests (like the skin prick/scratch test) are designed to detect immediate reactions to ingested food.  Classic Type I (IgE) allergies are different to the IgG intolerances (delayed onset Type 3 allergy) that the ImuPro test is looking for.

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Will the ImuPro test detect if I am Lactose intolerant?

Lactose intolerance is different to having a Type III food allergy to milk or dairy products.

Lactose intolerance is an enzyme deficiency, not IgG mediated, and therefore will not be detected by the ImuPro test.

You can be Lactose intolerant, but not Type III intolerant to dairy products. Similarly, you might have a Type III food allergy to dairy products, but this does not necessarily mean you are Lactose intolerant.

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Will the ImuPro test detect if I am intolerant to salycilates or amines in foods?

The ImuPro test looks for IgG intolerances only. Salycilate and amine intolerance are not IgG mediated and therefore will not be picked up by the ImuPro test.

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What is the difference between IgG and IgE?

IgG stands for "Immunoglobulin G".  Immunoglobulins are the antibodies found in your blood.  They are used by the immune system to identify and neutralise foreign objects, such as bacteria and viruses.  Everybody has IgG antibodies in their blood but occasionally these antibodies can start to react against foods (usually when the body is overloaded with the same foods).  This is what can cause food allergies or delayed-onset food allergies (food intolerance).

IgE mediated allergies are completely separate to IgG mediated intolerances.  An IgE allergy is a traditional "true" allergy where symptoms occur immediately, rather than delayed in the case of intolerances. 

Your IgE allergies must be taken into account in addition to the ImuPro findings when amending your diet.

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What are the most common allergens?

ImuPro studies have shown that milk and dairy products as well as varieties of cereals trigger immunological reactions in a large number of people.

Gluten, egg white, dairy products and brewers/baker’s yeast can cause a high level of intolerance and should be avoided if an intolerance is detected - this is not always easy as theses food types are often hidden in innumerable manufactured products.

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Can I still eat lollies and biscuits on my ImuPro diet?

You can eat whatever you like as long as the foods don't contain any hidden ingredients which you are intolerant to!

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I suffer symptoms after eating certain foods but I am not sure whether it is caused by food intolerances or something else?

If you are not sure if your symptoms are caused by food intolerances, we have a low-cost PreScreen Test which is designed to show you whether or not you have intolerances and whether you would benefit from the full test. The cost of the PreScreen Test is AUD$95.00.  If you go on to take the full ImuPro300 test, we rebate you AUD$45.00 off the cost.

The full ImuPro300 tests for intolerances to 270 individual foods and is the most comprehensive test of its kind available in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore or Malaysia.

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My test shows that I react to foods I have never eaten. How can this be possible?

Some foods belong to the same family. For example, potato, aubergine, tomato and tobacco are all members of the nightshade family. Related foods can often produce a similar immunological response.

It is also possible that you react to a food (such as soy), even though you are sure that you have never eaten soy. This is because soy and its extracts are added to a large number of foods, so you may have consumed soy without your knowledge. Another example is poppy seed, which is frequently contained in drugs as a modified component.

Another possibility is the occurance of a "cross-reaction".  What this means is that the antibodies recognise not only the antigen for which it was originally formed but also other antigens which belong to other food stuffs.  This is possible because some foods have identical molecules even though they may not be directly related to each other.  Cross reactions can even occur with environmental allergens which share a similar molecular construction to a certain food.

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I would like to try a food that I have not been tested for

All foods and additives not included in the test analysis should be avoided during the first 8 to 10 weeks following the test.

Afterwards, you should proceed as follows: incompatibilities with rare foodstuffs such as safflower oil, tropical fruits or exotic vegetables such as parsnips are rare.  If you would like to try a food which has not been tested, you should note any health problems that occur in the following week.

You should also limit yourself to reintroducing one untested food at a time into your diet so that if you do get a response you will know which food has caused it. If you do not have any adverse reactions to the food then you may continue to include it in your rotational diet.

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What should I do in case of a sudden craving for a particular food?

It is widely known that there is a link between food intolerances and cravings. Do not give in to food cravings. After three to five days the cravings will subside and are less likely to return.

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Should I take the DAO Histamine test instead of the ImuPro test?

These tests are quite separate to one another - each test looks for something different, which one test alone is unable to do.  If you are unsure which test you should do you should speak to an ImuPro representative to discuss your options.  Usually you will be advised to do just one test to start with and if you do not find relief from those results, then you can look at going down the path of a different test.

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