Quick question: is there a blood test for cow's milk protein intolerance?

[Poppet45]

Am off to see a rather snotty consultant later, she's not an allergies bod, and has decided to use the Ig blood tests for DD's suspected cmpi. Am I right in thinking these tests are totally pointless for her, as she has doesnt have the swollen lips and hives type of allergy, but the awful wind, reflu, type of reaction to dairy. I'm not normally bolshy with the medical profession, but this woman appears useless with allergies, and DD is a former premmie and always borderline anaemic so I don't want to waste her blood!

IIRC IgE is not raised in intolerance, so no a blood test wouldn't help.

sorry wiki link but explains it

Best of luck with the consultant

there is a blood test for igG levels in the blood, and this is used as an indication of tolerence however its not that reliable.

the only true way to confirm intolerence is to use and exclusion diet and thats a long process, but worth it .

You've probably seen the consultant. But he/she should have done a skin prick test, where they put a drop of the liquid onto you DC's arm and then prick it with a sterile pin. If there is a reaction, a red lump will occur. The bigger the lump, the stronger the intolerance.

mamij, skin prick tests are for ige allergy, or classic allergy. intolerence is very different.

But skin prick tests can find out whether or not you are sensitised to a certain food or other things.

Intolerance and elimination of foods from a diet should be done with care. You may need to give vitamin supplements in this case. Ask your GP to refer you to a specialist if you're worried.

eragon is right, skin prick tests only test for allergies that involve the immune system, they cannot show whether or not you are intolerant to a particular food. Intolerances can be difficult to identify as often the symptoms can occur quite a long time after ingestion. Eliminating dairy from your DD's diet for 6-8 weeks and keeping a detailed diary of what she's eating and her symptoms may well be the best option.

Don't quite understand what this consultant is playing at. How come you got referred to this consultant? You're really better off seeing an allergy specialist, if that is the problem. Ninety year old pioneering allergy specialist was on the One Show the other day and summed it all up for me at the end, when he said that the problem is that there is some great research done in the UK, but most Drs don't understand the allergies or to diagnose them. Problem is, I suspect you're gonna have to 'play the game' with this one, in order to eventually get the right help. Either that, or do what we did and go private (you can look up the specialists online).

The others have already answered your question, but can I just add - push to see the hospitals paediatric nutritionalist, THAT is where you will likely get help & understanding for your DDs intolerances

My own DD is chemical additive & lactose intolerant - again not well understood by either GP or Gastro, by the time we got to see the specialists I had already worked out for myself what was causing DDs skin & stomach problems & as I've a lot of interest in nutritional therapy, I didn't think I could learn much more from the Nutritionalist, but ours was great & with hindsight getting it accepted & understood by her, has been a big help with GP & School

good luck :)

Thanks all for the helpful messages - sadly the consultant took bloods after all. DD was 12 weeks prem and has issues with zinc and iron shortages because she couldn't build up her third trimester stores - given her 3rd trimester lasted 10 days - but as she is BF, the charming consultant prefers to blame me and my 'appalling diet' even though she's never asked me about my diet ever, and despite the fact that DD spent 6 weeks on a diuretic to prevent congestive heart failure that sadly washes away 60 per cent of zinc reserves. I've been dairy and soy free for 3 months now and its really helping, but the consultant reckons dd would be a different baby on formula. Thanks for helping confirm my fairly hefty lack of confidence in her.