Skin discoloration

GetTested's Allergy & Food Intolerance Test
GetTested's Allergy & Food Intolerance Test is an extensive tool for identifying potential allergies and food intolerances. This dual test covers 78 substances, including various foods, pollen, mold, pets, and mites. Therefore, it provides a comprehensive view of your allergy and tolerance levels.
IgE vs. IgG: Distinguishing Allergy from Food Intolerance
Importantly, the test differentiates between IgE antibodies (indicating allergies) and IgG4 antibodies (signifying food intolerances). Allergies involve immune system reactions, whereas food intolerances affect the gastrointestinal system. Thus, one can have an allergy to a food without being intolerant to it, or vice versa.
Allergic reactions typically appear quickly, with symptoms ranging from mild, like a runny nose, to severe and potentially life-threatening. On the other hand, food intolerances often show delayed symptoms, including fatigue, mood swings, brain fog, headaches, and gastrointestinal problems.
Histamine Intolerance and Allergy Symptoms
If symptoms like headaches or skin rashes seem familiar, consider histamine intolerance. This condition, often confused with allergic reactions, results from the body's inability to break down histamine effectively.
Allergy vs. Gluten Intolerance
It's also vital to distinguish between allergies, immediate immune responses, and gluten intolerance (celiac disease), which affects the digestive system over time. While both can share symptoms, their causes and treatments differ.
While GetTested's Allergy & Food Intolerance Test identifies allergies and intolerances to wheat, celiac disease is a separate condition that necessitates a different test. You can conveniently check for celiac disease with our specialized rapid test.
Understanding the ELISA Method
Furthermore, the food intolerance aspect of the test employs the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method. This technique detects and quantifies substances such as peptides, proteins, antibodies, and hormones. Specifically, it involves immobilizing the antigen on a solid surface (microplate) and then linking it to an antibody connected to a reporter enzyme. Finally, we detect the interaction by measuring the enzyme's activity, ensuring precise results through specific antibody-antigen interactions.

About Cortisol
Cortisol is a stress hormone that is released when we are exposed to physical or mental stress. Cortisol is produced in the adrenal glands and helps you perform better physically and mentally in situations that the body perceives as acute stress. In the distant past, stress was a natural reaction to protect yourself from predators, whereas nowadays stress takes on a different form. Today, our stress comes from a modern setting, such as stress about paying the bills.
 
The stress we experience in today’s society often becomes chronic stress. This means high levels of cortisol building up in the body for long periods of time. This causes high levels of cortisol which is harmful and dangerous to the body, resulting in high blood pressure and high blood sugar which can cause type-2 diabetes.
 
However, too little cortisol in the body is not good either. If the cortisol levels become really low, the urine excretes large amounts of sodium, which can lead to life-threatening conditions. 
 
It is important to know if you are at a risk of being affected by any of these conditions. By taking GetTested’s Cortisol test, you can get an indication of your cortisol levels and take adequate measures to prevent cortisol disorders. 
The function of cortisol
Cortisol has a variety of functions in our body. In acute stressful situations, cortisol secretion helps you perform better, both physically and mentally. Cortisol is also important for the movement of the intestines and controls the body’s metabolism of sugar, fat and protein. With its anti-inflammatory effect, cortisol counteracts the function of the immune system, which makes us more susceptible to infections.
Your cortisol level is not always related to your stress level. Physical activity also increases cortisol secretion in the body, but unlike secretion during stress, cortisol instead reduces inflammation that occurs on the muscles. In the medical world, cortisol is best known for its anti-inflammatory and muscle-degrading effects in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, and this is then treated by adding cortisone.
Cortisol also controls the immune system and reduces swelling in allergies and insect bites. Therefore, Cortisol is a vital hormone for our wellbeing. 
Cortisol fluctuations 
Cortisol levels should be at the highest in the morning and lowest at night. The metabolism of fats, sugars and proteins is all controlled by the cortisol.  The amount of cortisol itself depends on what you do and how much stress you put on yourself. Stress can raise the cortisol levels, as well as being injured, having fever, infections or too high adrenaline. 
Symptoms of high cortisol:
In the long run, however, high levels are harmful to the body and with high levels of cortisol for a long time, fat burning decreases and impairs insulin sensitivity, which in the long run can lead to obesity and type-2 diabetes.

Fatigue
Low libido
Weight gain
Difficulty sleeping
High blood pressure
Poor immune function

Symptoms of low cortisol:
Low levels of cortisol can lead to menstrual disorders, muscle weakness and general mental illness, as well as cortisol inhibiting inflammation. In more rare and extreme cases, low cortisol can lead to adrenal insufficiency (also known as Addison’s disease). In such cases, the body does not make enough hormones. Diseases like Addison’s disease can cause life-threatening conditions and usually need to be medicated, but “Milder” conditions still cause a huge stress on the body and mind and should not be left untreated.
The most common symptoms of low cortisol are: 

Menstrual disorders
Fatigue
Muscle weakness
Low blood pressure
Loss of appetite
Nausea

Cortisol blood test vs cortisol saliva test
GetTested’s Cortisol Test measures your cortisol levels from your saliva instead of blood, making it a lot more convenient to use. For example, people with naturally cold hands may experience difficulty acquiring blood from pricking their finger, which makes a blood test not ideal. It is also more comfortable for people who are sensitive to blood and needles. 
Testing cortisol throughout the day
GetTested’s Cortisol Test measures bioavailable and free cortisol at seven points throughout the day, combining the first morning values into one, resulting in five reported values. Cortisol is released in response to physical or mental stress, enhancing physical and mental performance under short-term stress. However, consistently high cortisol levels can be harmful, while low levels can also pose health problems. This test is especially useful for those experiencing chronic stress, fatigue, or other stress-related symptoms.
For a comprehensive hormonal assessment, DHEA—another hormone affected by stress—is often measured alongside cortisol. Our DHEA Saliva Test can provide additional insights into your stress response and hormonal balance.

About Iron Deficiency and Ferritin

Detect signs of iron deficiency with our high-quality ferritin test. Iron deficiency is common, especially in menstruating women and children, and can have serious health effects. Our test measures the ferritin level (S-Ferritin) in the blood and provides a clear picture of your iron values. If the result is below the threshold of 30 ng/ml, it may indicate potential iron deficiency and could be related to symptoms such as pallor, fatigue, headaches, and shortness of breath during exercise. Sufficient iron stores are crucial for the body to produce enough hemoglobin and red blood cells, which oxygenate your tissues and provide you with energy. Take care of your health and order our ferritin test today to ensure you have a balanced iron level and optimal well-being.

Instructions

Prepare easily for the test by storing it at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Just make sure to use it before the expiration date and keep it in the sealed bag until it's time to use it.
To perform the test, wash your hands thoroughly and let the test cassette reach room temperature. Remove the cap from the lancet and clean the fingertip with the provided alcohol swab. Press the lancet against the finger to obtain a blood sample, and then massage the finger to produce a blood drop.
Use the pipette to collect the blood and place it into the test cassette. Add a drop of buffer solution and wait for the colored lines to appear. After 5 minutes, you can read the result. Remember not to read the result after 10 minutes.