We are constantly bombarded by an ever-increasing number of chemicals and toxins on a day to day basis. Whether this comes from our food, the air we breathe or the water we drink, the body has to process these chemicals and toxins. There are many ways of measuring the actual toxins – hair, blood or urine, but the Chemical Immune Reactivity Screen is the first test to test your actual immune system’s response to toxins.
Toxic heavy metals and chemicals are all around us, in our environment and in our foods. Array 11 measures an expanded range of environmental chemical toxins that bind to human tissues versus other laboratory tests that only identify chemical exposure.
Important new research suggests that 20% of people show immune reactivity to environmental toxins which can be an important driver in autoimmune disease. When chemicals bind to our own tissue, they create antigens, substances that cause the immune system to produce antibodies, tagging them for destruction. On their own, the chemicals aren’t recognised by the immune system. It’s only when they combine with our own proteins that they become a target, and so does our healthy tissue. This is thought to be a key trigger in some cases of the autoimmune disease – explaining why the immune system has started to attack our own cells.
Due to advances in laboratory testing, it is now possible to test to see what chemicals your immune system is overreacting to. The test measures immune reactivity to a wide range of chemicals including mould toxins, detergent chemicals, plasticisers, benzene derivatives, flame retardants, dry-cleaning chemicals, parabens and heavy metals.
This test identifies body burden of chemicals bound to human tissues, which may lead to autoimmune reactivity.
Exposure to high levels of toxins can compromise liver function and disrupt enzyme activity in the body. Certain individuals will also develop chemical sensitivities to these toxins. This isn’t related to the amount of toxin; instead, it’s dependent on whether the immune system is reacting to these environmental compounds of not. It’s possible to react to a toxin in the same way you can react to a food, such as gluten or dairy.
These toxins can be an important driver in autoimmune disease, in which the immune system starts to attack our own cells. This phenomenon can also lead to an overactive immune system and a loss of chemical tolerance. This manifests as:
People with loss of chemical tolerance often react to car fumes, body products, perfumes and any strong smells. It’s associated with symptoms such as asthma, migraines, depression, fibromyalgia, fatigue, brain fog, memory loss, incontinence, neurological dysfunction, rashes and autoimmune symptoms.
Once identified, exposure to these agents can be minimised to help calm down inflammation and tissue damage while a protocol is implemented to help restore immune tolerance.
You will need to arrange for a blood sample to be collected either at a laboratory in London, by a nurse at your GP service or at a private clinic or hospital. Any fee for this service is not included with the test fee.
While Cyrex is unable to provide an exhaustive list of medications due to the interactive complexities and varieties of medications and patient circumstances, the following have been noted:
Please do not stop any medication without your doctor’s consent.
Once you’ve collected your sample, please send it back to the lab using the prepaid return label.
3 years and above.
Your test results will be emailed to you.