MRT Test – The Best Food Sensitivity Test

What is the MRT Food Sensitivity Test?

The MRT Test a food sensitivity test. “MRT” stands for “mediator release test”. This means it tests for the total amount of immune compounds (mediators) released at the final step of an immune reaction. These reactions directly leads to the symptom(s). The release of these mediators creates the actual symptoms you feel when you experience a food sensitivity reaction.

“All food-induced inflammatory reactions involve mediator release, which is the single most important event leading to all the negative effects food sensitivity patients suffer” (nowleap.com). That’s why we want to test for these mediators, not just the antibodies that our immune system produces earlier on in the immune process. Testing instead for total amount of mediators is a more accurate assessment of what foods are creating issues for you.

Who is the MRT Food Sensitivity Test For?

MRT testing is generally best used after initial gut issues have been addressed or at least identified further. I generally like to start first with the 5R gut protocol since the gut is the primary site of immune responses and food sensitivity reactions. (At least 70% of our immune system is stimulated in the gut!). The gut often needs to be healed in order to reverse food sensitivities. You can learn more about my views on gut health care here.

How is MRT different from other common food sensitivity testing?

MRT vs IgG Food Sensitivity Tests

Many food sensitivity tests on the market often test for IgG levels. These are immunoglobulins released earlier on in the immune process. Common IgG testing include Everlywell’s at home IgG test or IgG blood tests ordered by GI doctors. Unfortunately, IgG testing often “misses the mark” for food sensitivities. IgG is an immunoglobulin whose levels are not a clinically significant indicator of food sensitivity, as it doesn’t capture other immune reactions to sensitive foods.

Evidence even shows that a high IgG level indicates only about a 50% validity of the person actually being sensitive to that food! Just so you know, 50% validity is NOT very useful. It means that if your body produces a high level of IgG in response to a food, then there’s actually only a 50% chance that the food in question actually causes issues for you. That is not a clinically sound marker to recommend dietary changes. I wouldn’t want to ask someone to cut out a laundry list of foods that may not actually be a problem for them. Wouldn’t it be better to get a more accurate picture of your food sensitivities? 

Why MRT is Better than IgG for Testing Food Sensitivities

An immune reaction might start with the release of an initial antibody as well as IgG protein. However, those molecules are NOT what ultimately creates the negative symptoms of food sensitivity. Only after a cascade of additional immune reactions do we get to the last step in the immune process. This is where the chemicals, or “mediators”, released actually cause the symptoms of food sensitivity. 

MRT, unlike IgG testing, tests for the total load of all of the end point reactions that happen in response to a food. This means that MRT accounts for potential IgG reactions but ALSO additional immune reactions. Therefore, MRT is a more valid food sensitivity test. These results can be used to make accurate dietary recommendations to provide the most effective results. In fact, MRT has been shown to have about 94% validity in the results actually being clinically useful.

Food Sensitivities vs Food Intolerances

MRT vs Low FODMAP Diet

MRT measures immunological reactions to sensitive foods. These reactions can happen in the gut as well as many other areas of the body. 

Food intolerances, on the other hand, are non-immune mediated reactions. FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols. These compounds are a class of fibers and carbohydrates that in certain individuals cause food intolerances. So instead of being an immune reaction, per se, the negative reaction to FODMAPs is often due to enzyme deficiency, other digestive secretion insufficiencies, absorption issues, bacterial imbalances disturbing digestion or absorption, etc. If these imbalances are unaddressed, they CAN eventually lead to immune issues. This is when FODMAP food intolerances and food sensitivities can eventually overlap. 

So if you know certain high FODMAP foods don’t agree with you, you may need to continue avoiding those during a gut healing protocol. This would be despite whether MRT shows those are low sensitive foods.

This Patient Tour is very helpful in explaining how food sensitivities can cause issues & how we can identify this process and treat it. And here is additional information on conditions where food sensitivities often play a role.

Cost of the MRT Test

Please ask about test price for the MRT 176 test. MRT tests must be ordered through a clinician certified in providing this test and following protocol.

Which Foods Does the MRT Food Sensitivity Test test for?

The MRT 176 tests for 176 foods and food substances or additives. These include a wide variety of foods (fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, meats, dairy, etc), herbs, spices, food colorings, and many more compounds. See the full list of substances tested here.

How to Complete an MRT Food Sensitivity Test

Usually my client and I will already be working together. As with all of my clients, we need to do a comprehensive functional medicine assessment to start. And as stated earlier, usually gut health needs to be assessed more fully and addressed either prior to or in tandem with MRT testing, since the gut usually plays a huge role in immune-mediated food reactions.

Here are the steps to getting the MRT Food Sensitivity Test:

1. Once we decide that MRT testing is appropriate for you, I will order the MRT 176 test for you.
2. Payment for the test is made between you as the client and Oxford Biomedical Technologies, the provider of the test. They will reach out to you about making the payment.
3. You will receive a test kit in the mail.
4. Then, you can schedule a blood draw at a local lab that is able to do MRT testing. You can find a partnering lab using the Draw Locator.
5. I will receive your results in my practitioner portal, usually within 1 week from your blood draw.
6. Once I receive the results, I will reach out to you to schedule your follow up appointment with me to discuss your results and the therapeutic protocol to begin addressing your needs.

What to Expect with the MRT Results

I will guide you on a LEAP protocol, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory eating plan that is specifically tailored to your MRT results and overall health needs. It stand for Lifestyle Eating and Performance. The LEAP plan ideally involves avoiding highly sensitive foods for about 6 – 12 weeks while focusing on eating the low sensitivity foods. However, sometimes just 3 weeks of avoidance of the most reactive foods can be enough to get some great symptom reduction, & can be easier on your sanity than having to do a more strict protocol. So there can be great benefit of doing MRT even if the full protocol isn’t followed to a “T”. Here is an idea of the plan in a nutshell.

You can also view a sample report of MRT results here.

Overall, MRT testing followed by an individualized LEAP protocol has been shown to be effective for many people.

For me, personally, my gut and inflammation journey greatly took a positive turn after doing MRT testing and a LEAP protocol. Since doing so, my regular immune flares (the last of which damaged my knees) have never returned! My clients who I have done MRT with have experienced reduction in headaches and brain fog, gained bowel regularity, lost weight, reduced puffiness and body bloat, reduced joint and muscle pain, and, perhaps most excitingly, have been able to gain back the freedom of a more expansive eating pattern, being able to tolerate a broad variety of foods once again.

Ready to Test not Guess?