The “Pin-Prick” MethodJust as different labs have different qualities of tests, so do they have different specimen requirements. Some laboratories in the food intolerance industry require 1-3 full tubes of whole blood while others might require as little as less than 1cc of a blood specimen.Many years ago, York Nutritional Laboratory (YNL) began the painstaking effort to perfect the specimen collection process by developing the IgG ELISA food intolerance “pin-prick” technology, which is recognized internationally as the foodSCAN Food Intolerance Test. Here is how it works:
Step # 1:The patient’s hands are washed with warm water and dried thoroughly. Step # 2:The area where the blood specimen will be collected is further sterilized with a provided alcohol swab. (Note: Many medical professionals report the side of the tip of ether the finger or thumb as being an ideal location to have the blood specimen collected from.) Step # 3:The cap of the lancet provided with the foodSCAN kit is twisted off. Step # 4:The opened lancet is firmly pressed against the area to be “pricked”. The end of the lancet is quickly depressed so to deploy the sterile device which will “prick” the finger or thumb. (Note: Each lancet is used only once per individual and for a single specimen collection.) Step # 5:The finger or thumb is massaged from the base and worked up to the area “pricked”. This forms a small droplet of blood which is collected for testing. Step # 6:The fiber filling (the wick) of the small collection tube (the wand) is placed against the blood on the finger or thumb. The blood will immediately be absorbed into the wand. The wand MUST be completely colored RED from end to end in order for the test to be performed. (Note: It may be necessary to repeat Step # 5 in order to completely fill the wand.) Step # 7:The filled wand is inserted into the small transport tube included with the kit. The patient’s name is clearly written to the outside of the tube exactly as it appears written on the required paperwork, which is also included with the foodSCAN kit. Step # 8:The small tube containing the filled wand, the used lancet and the completed paperwork is inserted into the red plastic box. The red plastic box, now containing the small tube with the filled wand, the used lancet and the completed paperwork, is sealed inside the provided plastic bio-shipping bag and shipping package, which is pre-labeled with our UK-based laboratory’s address.
Please call Gary (781-642-0594) to order your kit or if you have any questions.
