Genetic Testing for Allergies

Allergies are a medical condition where your body has an immune reaction to a particular particle that is not within the normal range. Your immune system is important for fighting against anything that is considered foreign to your body, such as viruses or bacteria. However, when your immune system is in overdrive, it can begin to react against things that it should have no effect against, such as components of the foods that you eat that are ordinarily well tolerated by the body. Allergies can range from mild to severe, often causing discomfort but sometimes requiring medical intervention for the patient.

Some ingredients are more likely to produce reactions when eaten. Tree nuts, shellfish, eggs, soy and wheat have all been known to produce allergic reactions in sufferers. The tendency to be allergic towards particular food items can be caused by a myriad of reasons, but there is a strong hereditary component that can affect your susceptibility. 

Allergies have been shown to have a genetic basis. You may be at risk of developing a food allergy based on the DNA that you inherit from your parents, and these allergies may be exacerbated by environmental factors in your life.
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Your DNA is comprised of two sets of chromosomes: one inherited from your mother and one from your father. These chromosomes contain genes that have evolved over millions of years to contain specific changes that can affect your physical characteristics, or phenotype. If the chromosomes of one of your parents contain a change that carries a risk for a particular allergy, then this change can be passed on to you.

Having only one copy of a gene that carries the change responsible for an allergy may lead to a moderate reaction, but having both copies affected might cause a severe allergy.
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Understanding your risk for a particular allergy can be as simple as sequencing your DNA. A DNA test will uncover your genotype, that is, the specific sequence of your DNA at a particular location, that tells you whether you carry this genetic change or not. Once you have this information, you can then determine whether you should avoid a particular food in order to reduce your risk of a reaction.

There are many food allergies that can cause a reaction in an individual. Food allergies may include a peach, shrimp, nut or shellfish allergy and can require a person to carry medications in order to combat the symptoms.

A food sensitivity DNA test can provide you with information as to your risk for an allergy. Though you may not have had a reaction in the past, repeated exposure can be devastating, as the more exposure you have to an allergen, the higher your chance of a reaction if you are at risk. 

When you enjoy a meal, the last thing you want to think of is whether or not the food you eat is going to send your immune system into overdrive. You will get much more enjoyment out of your meals by knowing that you have less risk of developing a food allergy.
As allergic reactions can happen very quickly, it is crucial that you understand your susceptibility.
The easiest way to know whether or not you are at risk is to perform a DNA test for allergy testing that is based on scientific evidence. Genetic testing for allergies is a simple process that utilizes the DNA data that you already own.

Genomelink offers a wide range of food and nutrition related traits, including Gluten Sensitivity, Egg, Peanut, Shrimp Allergies. However, as of today, none of these analyses are diagnostic purposes and we do not analyze any genetic markers that are identified medically actionable. If you are interested in taking these tests, please consult with your doctors.