Dr. Amy Nett: When they first came out with Array 10, that was definitely one of the questions that we had because it seems like it has the most information. That said, it’s also the most expensive, so it’s a little bit tricky there in terms of whether or not it’s really the most cost effective, but here’s what I would say. If the patient is eating wheat and gluten, then the number-one most important test is to do Cyrex Array 3 because if they’re reluctant to remove wheat and gluten from their diet, that’s the most common antigen that’s going to be causing symptoms and immune dysregulation. If what they need to remove wheat and gluten from their diet is a test that shows them their immune system is responding inappropriately, then I would prioritize that one.
Personally, when I have a patient who is concerned about money and interested in food sensitivity testing, I choose to run Cyrex Arrays 3 and 4. As I mentioned, Array 3, I’m very concerned about wheat and gluten. I want to make sure that’s not a trigger for the person. Cyrex Array 4 contains some of the more common foods that trigger intolerances, so I think you could make an argument that that’s a little bit more high yield in terms of those foods more often causing intolerance and immune imbalance. Unfortunately, I asked Cyrex whether or not 10 would sort of cover the foods on Array 4, and they said, no, they’re completely separate tests, and the foods on Cyrex Array 4 are not covered on 10.
I’m also reluctant to encourage Cyrex Array 10 because I think we haven’t seen that one for long enough. Maybe it needs a little more trial. Of those three food panels, I feel the least confident in Array 10. Maybe it’s, again, a matter of getting more comfortable with it, more familiar with it, but I see a lot of foods coming back on patients that just don’t seem to make any sense, whether it’s patients coming back with positive results for sardines or cooked bananas when either they haven’t eaten these foods or really just don’t feel symptomatic to those foods but do to others. So I think, based on clinical experience, Cyrex Array 10 might be the least reliable, and I think 3 and 4 contain some of the higher yield foods in terms of those foods being more common triggers. So I would say, if they’re concerned about money, the best bang for your buck is Arrays 3 and 4.