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Our Bureau

Chennai, Oct. 15 US-based Cell Science Systems, provider of ‘Food Allergy and Intolerance test’, is developing 50 indigenous Indian food intolerance categories.

Food and Health Labs, a food intolerance testing centre, has entered into a tripartite agreement with Cell Science Systems and Lifeline Healthcare in providing Alcat Test in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Alcat Test helps a person identify his intolerance to certain foods.

Mr Kevin Garrity, Chief Operating Officer, Cell Science Systems, said that the company expects to complete the process of developing indigenous south Indian food intolerance panels by the end of the year.

Cell Science Systems has so far developed 250 intolerant categories of food in the US. Indian food ingredients, additives, and spices are very different and it is important to develop food panel intolerance specific to India to gain an entry to the potential market, he said.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Roger Deutsch, Founder and CEO, Cell Science Systems, said severe migraine, irritable bowel and digestive problems are largely found to be a result of a person’s intolerance level to certain foods he consumes.

The Robocat II, a proprietary test platform, allows clinicians to objectively quantify reactions of leukocytes following in vitro exposure to food extracts, additives and chemicals, molds, common antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications and various other substances, he added.

Dr Ketan Parekh, CEO, Food and Health Labs, said Cell Science Systems has franchised the Alcat Test in India to Lifeline Healthcare, the technology partner has given the franchisee operations for two southern states to Food and Health Labs. He declined to comment on the revenue-sharing between franchisee agreements.

Food and Health Labs plans to enter into an agreement with seven hospitals in Chennai to provide the Alcat Test. For a person to check his intolerance level to 50 foods would cost Rs 7,000 and to 250 foods would cost about Rs 17,000.

Dr Parekh said that food intolerance is predominantly found among children.

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