The kit contains full pictorial instructions, but here is a detailed description:
If carrying out the test for someone else: the first step is to mark the reaction tray with their name or initials.
Several reaction steps follow, but you begin by disinfecting the skin area (generally a middle finger on the non-writing hand). Then you’d loosen the red cap on the Solution A bottle so as to have it ready.
You then prick the finger in a fleshy part and start squeezing blood out. This is easier when the finger is pointed downwards and is held well below the heart (to benefit from gravity). Keep kneading the hand downwards towards the pinprick. When there’s enough – so much that more would probably drip – start collecting the blood with the small clear plastic tube provided. Let it fill as far as the black line. A spare tube is provided in case your initial attempts are unsuccessful
When full, squeeze the blood into the bottle of diluent marked Solution A.
You can then choose to carry out the test immediately or to store the blood in the Solution A bottle in a cool place for a few hours before doing the test.
If you feel nervous about taking a blood sample, contact info@www.nutricentric.com for our free ‘Guide to taking a blood sample at home’. If you run into problems collecting the blood, don’t continue the test. Keep everything else sealed and contact info@www.nutricentric.com to get another capillary tube. What’s worth doing is worth waiting for!
To carry out the test, the diluted blood sample is poured from the Solution A bottle over the entire reaction tray and allowed react with the antigens (raw food extracts contained in the small circular wells) for 20 minutes, followed by very thorough rinsing,
The additional steps detect and then make visible the antibody-antigen complexes.
In all, this takes about 35 minutes, following which the tray is briefly and gently rinsed, and drained before the results are interpreted. If one of the numbered circular wells has a dark shade, this demonstrates a high concentration of antibody-antigen complexes, while no colour is seen if there are none.
In all, this takes about 35 minutes, following which the tray is briefly and gently rinsed, and drained before the results are interpreted. If one of the numbered circular wells has a dark shade, this demonstrates a high concentration of antibody-antigen complexes, while no colour is seen if there are none.
At this stage it is advisable to take a photo – for example with your phone – so that you have a record. This is just in case you get distracted or must rush off to do something else.
The bottom right hand well contains a positive, and next to it, a negative control. These show that the test was carried out correctly. They also help you interpret the results.
If a food item has the same shade as the positive control, it would generally be rated as 5+, while a blank item rates zero.
The bottom right hand well contains a positive, and next to it, a negative control. These show that the test was carried out correctly. They also help you interpret the results.
If a food item has the same shade as the positive control, it would generally be rated as 5+, while a blank item rates zero.