1. Antigen Leukocyte
Cellular Antibody Test
(ALCAT)
By: Jennifer Smith

2. Objectives
 Purpose of the tool
 History/ Development of the tool
 Marketing of the tool
 Patient selection criteria
• What to tell our patients in regards to:
 Mechanism
 Safety of use
 Case studies and testimonials
 Synopsis of the literature
 Conclusion

3. Purpose of the ALCAT
 The ALCAT is used to identify reactions to over 350 foods,
chemicals, and other substances associated with
inflammation and chronic symptoms such as migraines,
joint pain, fatigue, GI disorders, and asthma.1

4. History/ Development of ALCAT1
 The ALCAT was developed by the American Medical
Testing Laboratories and is now marketed by Cell Science
Systems in Deerfield Beach, FL
• Privately held US based biomedical lab
• 20 years in business
• FDA Inspected and Registered
• CLIA Inspected and Licensed
• Robocat II
 an automated liquid handling system designed to
measure blood cells using the electronic principle of
particle counting and sizing
• Awarded 3 Patents
• 20 Labs, 20 Countries, 6 Continents

5. Marketing of ALCAT1
 The procedure was first marketed in 1984 as an in-vitro screening
testing for adverse reactions to specific foods, additives,
colorings, and chemicals.
 Since 1986 the original testing methods have been modified
 The goal is to offer high quality laboratory testing to healthcare
professionals and their patients, by using a state of the art
technique to provide clients with accurate, timely, and
dependable test results along with nutritional support services.
 Cell Science Systems continues to offer an extensive and
growing product lines.
 Testing is available in the U.S. as well as the U.K., Italy, Denmark,
Israel, Thailand, South Africa, Spain, Mexico, Greece, Germany,
Singapore, Ukraine, UAE, Saudi Arabia, India and South America
including Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina.

6. Patient Selection Criteria1
 People that would benefit from this form of testing
includes most individuals that are coming to the office
for nutritional counseling
• Most patients learn about the ALCAT from a
functional medical professional
 People who have found the allopathic route a dead
end
 People with inflammatory and/or undiagnosed varying
symptoms with no certain cause such as
• RA
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches, Migraines, fatigue
• Joint pain
• Unable to loose weight
• IBS/ IBS like symptoms

7. What to tell our patients:
Mechanism1,2
 It is a whole blood test that detects food and chemical
sensitivities or intolerances
 Measures delayed reaction over the course of several
hours after exposure
 The test measure changes in size/volume of white blood
cells
 Pathways include Immune, Non-Immune,
Pharmacologic, Toxic
 Measures the final common pathway of all mechanisms
 Sensitivities/Intolerances are not IgE mediated
 An indication of cellular inflammatory/ IgG response

8. ALCAT Can Test For:1
 200 Foods: Acorn Squash, Anchovies, Anise seed, Beef liver, Black currant, Bok choy,
Brazil nut, Cardamon, Catfish, Chamomile, Chili pepper, Coriander, Crayfish, Curry,
Endive, Fava bean, Fennel, Flounder, Jalapeno, Kale, Kelp, Leek, Liquorice, Macadamia,
Maple sugar, Mackerel, Mung bean, Mussel, Nectarine, Okra, Parsnip, Pine nut, Phesant,
Pomegranate, Quail, Quinoa, Rhubarb, Romaine lettuce, Rosemary, Sheeps milk, Saffron,
Spelt, Squid, Swiss chard, Swordfish, Tarragon, Turmeric, Venison, Watercress, Zucchini
squash, almond, apple, apricot, artichoke, asparagus, avocado, baker's yeast, banana,
bayleaf, barley, basil, beet, blackberry, black eye pea, black pepper, blueberry, brazil
nut, brewer's yeast, broccoli, brussel sprouts, buckwheat, cabbage, candida albicans,
cane sugar, cantaloupe, caraway, carob, carrot, casein, cashew, cauliflower, cayenne
pepper, celery, cherry, chamomile, chicpea, chili pepper, cinnamon, clove, cocoa,
coconut, coffee, corn, cranberry, cucumber, cumin, curry, date, dill, egg white, egg
yolk, eggplant, endive, fava bean, fig, flaxseed, fructose, garlic, ginger, gliadin, gluten,
grape, grapefruit, green pea, green pepper, hazelnut/filbert, honey, honeydew, hops,
jalepeno, kale, kelp, kidney bean, kiwi, leek, lemon, lentil bean, lettuce, lima bean, lime,
macadamia, malt, mango, maple sugar, milk (cow’s), milk (goat’s), millet, mint, mung
bean, mushroom, mustard, navy bean, nectarine, nutmeg, oat, okra, olive, onion,
orange, oregano, papaya, paprika, parsley, parsnip, peach, peanut, pear, pecan,
pineapple, pine nut, pinto bean, pistachio, plum, pomegranate, pumpkin, psyllium,
radish, raspberry, red pepper, romaine lettuce, rosemary, rhubarb, rice , rye, saffron,
sage, sesame, sheep's milk, soybean, spinach, squash, strawberry, string bean, sunflower,
sweet potato, swiss chard, tapioca, tarragon, tea, thyme, tomato, turnip, turmeric,
vanilla, walnut,watermelon, wheat, whey, white potato, zucchini

9. ALCAT Can Test For:1
 40 Male Herbs: Alfalfa Leaf, American Ginseng, Burdock, Butcher’s Broom
Root, Calendula, Cat's Claw, Catuba, Chaparral, Chondroitin Sulfate, Cnidium
Monnier, Damiana, Dong Quai, Fo-ti Root, Glucosamine, Gotu Kola, Horny
Goat Weed, Juniper Berry, Korean Ginseng, Lobelia, Lycopene, Maca Root,
Mistletoe, Mucuna Pruriens, Muira Puama, Myrrh, Nettle Leaf, Pumpkin Seed,
Pygeum Bark, Rehmannia Root, Sarsaparilla, Saw Palmetto, Siberian Ginseng,
Skull Cap, Stinging Nettle Root, Tribulus Terrestris, Uva Ursi, Velvet Deer Antler,
Yarrow, Yerba Maté, Yohimbe Bark
 50 Female Herb Panel: Alfalfa Leaf, Arnica, Black Cohosh, Blessed Thistle, Blue
Cohosh, Bupleurum Root, Boswellia, Buchu Leaf, Burdock, Butcher’s Broom
Root, Calendula, Cat's Claw, Chaparral Root, Chasteberry, Cramp Bark,
Damiana, Dong Quai, Evening Primrose, False Unicorn, Fo-Ti Root, Gotu Kola,
Horse Chestnut, Horsetail, Irish Moss, Juniper Berry, Korean Ginseng, Lavender,
Lemon Balm, Lobelia, Maca Root, Marshmallow Root, Mistletoe, Motherwort,
Myrrh, Nettle Leaf, Pennyroyal, Peony Root, Red Clover, Red Raspberry Leaf,
Rehmannia Root, Sarsaparilla, Siberian Ginseng, Skull Cap, Slippery Elm, Squaw
Vine, Uva Ursi, White Willow Bark, Wild Yam, Yarrow, Yerba Maté

10. ALCAT Can Test For:1
 50 Functional Foods & Medicinal Herbs: Açai Berry, Agave, Aloe,
Ashwagandha, Astragalus, Barley Grass, Bee Pollen, Bilberry,
Black Walnut, Cascara, Chlorella, Dandelion, Echinacea
Angustifolia, Erythritol, Essiac, Feverfew, Ginkgo Biloba, Goji Berry,
Goldenseal, Grape Seed Extract, Guarana Seed, Gymnema
Sylvestre, Hawthorn Berry, Huperzine, Kava Kava , Lutein, Maitake
Mushroom, Mangosteen, Milk Thistle, Mullein Leaf, Noni Berry, Pau
d'Arco Bark, Pine Bark, Red Clover Flower, Red Yeast Rice, Reishi
Mushroom, Resveratrol, Rhodiola, Rooibos Tea, Schizandra Berry,
Senna, Spirulina, St John’s Wort, Stevia Leaf, Valerian,
Vinpocetine, Wheatgrass, Wormwood, Xylitol, Yellow Dock

11. ALCAT Can Test For:1
 10 Food Additive/ 10 Food Colorings: Aspartame, Benzoic Acid, Monosodium
Glutamate(Msg), Polysorbate 80, Potassium Nitrate, Potassium Nitrite,
Saccharine, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfite, Acid Orange,
Blue #1, Blue #2, Brilliant Black, Green #3, Red #1, Red #3, Red #40, Yellow #5,
Yellow #6
 10 Environmental Chemicals: Ammonium Chloride, Benzene, Chlorine,
Ethylene Glycol, Fluoride, Formaldehyde, Nickel Sulfate, Orris Root, Phenol,
Toluene
 20 Molds Panel: Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botrytis, Candida Albicans,
Cephalosporium, Cladosporium, Curvularia Specifera, Epicoccum Nigrum,
Fusarium, Helminthosporium, Hormodendrum (Cladosporium), Mucor
Racemosus, Penicillium, Phoma Herbarum, Pullularia, Rhizopus Nigrican,
Rhodotorula (Rubra), Spondylocladium, Sporobolomyces, Trichoderma
 10 Antibiotics/ 10 Anti-inflammatories: Advil/Motrin, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin
Sodium, Aspirin, Cephalosporin, Clinoril, Diflunisal, Gentamicin Sulfate, Indocin,
Naproxen Sodium, Neomycin Sulfate, Nystatin, Penicillamine Hcl, Penicillin,
Piroxicam, Streptomycin Sulfate, Sulfmethoxazole, Tetracycline Hcl, Tylenol,
Voltaren

12. What to tell our patients:
Safety of use
 The testing only requires a blood draw which is a
minimally invasive procedure1
• Short term side effects can include
 temporary discomfort from the needle stick,
bruising, and very rarely infection
• There are no long term repercussions to testing if the
blood draw is performed correctly
 Theoretically, if the testing is not accurate it may have
false positive or false negative results which could
impact the patient’s outlook and/or patient care.

13. What to tell our patients:
Case studies and testimonials1
 Website testimonials
“I went to see Dr. Phillip Arnone at The Balanced Body Center …He requested
that I take a $583 food allergy test as well as begin a course of chiropractic
care. I have to admit I did so with reservations given the expense (which was
uninsured and had to be paid up front), and a lack of knowledge about the
likely success. Well, the test results came back showing that my body showed
reactions to wheat, corn, soy, and rice, four staple foods in the American diet! I
also showed reactions to a host of other foods that I commonly ate, including
garlic, ginger, mint, cilantro, grapes, and some citrus. I had to basically relearn
how to eat and where to shop to get workable foods….
Three months later, every one of the lingering MS symptoms I had was gone.
Gone! No more tingling hands and feet. No more labored breathing. I was even
able to successfully train for and complete the Ramblin' Rose triathlon….”
Kristin from North Carolina
 Testimonials

14. What to tell our patients:
Case studies and testimonials
 One case study3 demonstrates the use of ALCAT in a
38yof with severe facial dermatitis, candida infection,
and asthma.
 She had been given the run-around thought the
medical community with all testing indicating that no
disease was present.
 ALCAT results showed reaction with dairy, corn, salmon,
apricot, onion, and garlic.
 Removal of these foods from the diet improved all of her
symptoms in 4 weeks and total elimination of symptoms
at the 12 week follow-up.

15. Synopsis of the literature
 For the use of the ALCAT
• The effect of the ALCAT test diet therapy for food
sensitivity in patient’s with obesity4
• Case study
• 27 patients
• ALCAT was performed
• Results indicated intolerances for each patient
• Diet recommendations were made
• After 12 weeks following the diet
• Significant decreases in body weight, total body
fat percent and body mass index was seen
• The ALCAT and an elimination diet were
successful in alleviating many additional
symptoms along with providing weight loss.

16. Synopsis of the literature
 Cellular responses to food in irritable bowel syndrome- and
investigation of the ALCAT test5
• Double-blind study with respect to food challenges
• 20 patients
• >3yr hx of IBS
• Examined to r/o major pathology
• Skin testing was performed on all patients only one showed a positive result
• ALCAT performed
• 2 week elimination diet followed by 6 one week food challenges (3 positive,
3 negative) with randomly assigned foods followed by another 6weeks of
exclusion diet.
• Subjects were not aware that the elimination diet only contained negative
foods.
• Diary's were kept through out the process to record problems or reactions
that occurred during the challenges.
• After 14 weeks the subjects were assessed
• Symptoms overall improved, and in 2/3 of subjects improvement was seen
in just 2 weeks.
• The study found the accuracy of the ALCAT 72% for a positive result and
81% for a negative result.
• The study could have been performed better if washout periods were given
between the challenges.

17. Synopsis of the literature
 The short term efficacy of the ALCAT2
• Randomized Controlled Study
• 100 subjects
• Filled out a Disease Symptom Inventory at the
beginning and end of 4 weeks.
• Control group pursued a weight loss program
• Experimental was given the ALCAT results and
dietary guidance
• Experimental group has significant improvements in
body composition and self-reported disease
symptoms.

18. Synopsis of the literature
 Against the use of the ALCAT
• Unproven techniques in allergy diagnosis6
• A review of literature on different allergy
diagnostic tools
• Stated that consensus statements released by
allergy societies throughout the world as well as
the Worlds Allergy Organization do not
recommend the use of this test.
• They also report that the testing is “neither
economical nor useful for diagnosis”

19. Conclusions
 At this time the research is still inconclusive
 The Allopathic Medical community still stands on the belief that this
testing has not been proven to be accurate
 Many testimonials, professional case studies, and even some recent
blinded studies are having positive results.
 However, it is still difficult to conclude that the ALCAT evaluation is
accurate.
 The only conclusion that can reasonably be made is that positive
sensitivity reactions found by the ALCAT, along with the utilization
an elimination diet, has seemed to be effected for weight loss, IBS,
and relief of many other associated symptoms.
 More large scale double blind and RCT need to be done to
sufficiently evaluate the test’s true sensitivity and specificity.
 While the testing is rather expensive and results hold no guarantee.
If the individual is at the end of their rope so-to-speak then this may
be a viable alternative for an additional piece of information to the
diagnostic puzzle.

20. References
 1. ALCAT Worldwide. Retrieved on March 9,2010 from: http://www.alcat.com/
 2. Kaats, G.R., Pullin, D., Parker, L.K. (1996) The short term efficacy of the ALCAT test of food
sensitivities to facilitate changes in body composition and self-reported disease symptoms:
A randomized controlled study. The Bariatrician. Spring; 18-23.
 3. Brady, D.M. Clinical rounds in functional and nutritional medicine. Retrieved on March
9,2010 from: http://www.alcat.com/clinical_info/Case_Studies
 4. Akmal, M., Khan, S.A., Khan, A.Q. (2009) The effect of the ALCAT test diet therapy for food
sensitivity in patient’s with obesity. Middle East Journal of Family Medicine. 7(3).
 5. Fell, P.J., Soulsby, S., Brostoff, J. (1991) Cellular responses to food in irritable bowel
syndrome- and investigation of the ALCAT test. Journal of Nutritional Medicine. 2; 143-149.
 6. University of Zϋrich, Zϋrich Switzerland. (2005). Unproven techniques in allergy diagnosis.
Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology. 15(2); 86-90.