Oxford Biomedical Technologies (OBT) is a diagnostic company operating a clinical laboratory focused on identifying non-allergic adverse food reactions. OBT specializes in identifying food and chemical sensitivities that may contribute to chronic inflammatory conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), migraines, and fibromyalgia. This testing differs fundamentally from traditional allergy testing, which focuses on immediate, life-threatening reactions mediated by Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. OBT’s approach aims to uncover delayed, immune-mediated responses that cause chronic inflammation in the body.
Defining Oxford Biomedical Technologies
Oxford Biomedical Technologies is a privately held, US-based company operating as a licensed medical reference laboratory in Stuart, Florida. The organization provides healthcare professionals, particularly those in the functional medicine space, with diagnostic tools to identify dietary triggers of systemic inflammation. OBT developed and markets the testing technology and a corresponding dietary protocol to clinicians.
The company focuses on the concept of diet-induced inflammation, asserting it is a major factor in various chronic health issues often overlooked by conventional testing. The diagnostic tool they offer is the Mediator Release Test, designed to pinpoint the specific foods and chemicals causing an inflammatory reaction. The results are then used to guide a personalized elimination diet.
Understanding the Mediator Release Test (MRT)
The Mediator Release Test (MRT) is a blood test designed to measure the functional response of a patient’s immune cells when exposed to various food and chemical extracts. The process begins by taking a whole blood sample and dividing it into aliquots, which are then incubated with specific antigens. These antigens represent a panel of common foods and food additives.
The test’s mechanism is based on the premise that when a white blood cell (leukocyte) is exposed to a sensitive substance, it releases chemical mediators, such as histamine, cytokines, and prostaglandins. This release process causes the white blood cell to change its volume and shape, often shrinking. The MRT uses advanced technology, specifically flow cytometry combined with a patented impedance-based “Ribbon Method,” to measure these subtle volumetric changes.
The magnitude of the cell volume change is quantified and interpreted as the degree of the inflammatory reaction. This makes the MRT an “end-point” test, meaning it measures the final inflammatory event—the release of mediators—rather than simply measuring the presence of a single type of antibody like Immunoglobulin G (IgG). By measuring this cellular-level reaction, the test claims to capture inflammatory responses involving various types of white blood cells, including neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, and lymphocytes.
The LEAP Dietary Protocol
The Lifestyle Eating and Performance (LEAP) protocol is the therapeutic program used to translate the results of the MRT into an actionable, personalized diet plan. The goal of LEAP is to reduce inflammation and alleviate chronic symptoms by temporarily eliminating all highly and moderately reactive foods identified by the MRT. The eating plan is highly individualized based on each person’s unique test results.
The protocol is structured in phases, beginning with a brief, highly restricted diet period, often lasting 10 to 14 days. During this initial phase, the patient consumes only the non-reactive “green” category foods identified by the test. This aims to quickly calm the immune system and reduce symptoms. Subsequent phases involve the systematic reintroduction of the remaining non-reactive foods to broaden the diet.
The final phases focus on cautiously challenging the body with the moderately reactive foods, and eventually, foods not included in the original test panel. This structured reintroduction process, often guided by a Certified LEAP Therapist, helps the patient determine their individual tolerance levels. The long-term maintenance phase consists of a varied diet that permanently avoids the few foods or chemicals that consistently trigger symptoms.
Scientific Assessment of Testing Claims
The Mediator Release Test operates in the complex area of non-IgE mediated food sensitivities, which challenges widespread clinical acceptance. The test’s methodology, interpreting volumetric changes in white blood cells as a proxy for mediator release, is met with skepticism by many in the broader medical community. Mainstream medical organizations focus on IgE-based testing for true food allergies and rely on patient history and elimination diets for sensitivities.
A primary point of contention is the relationship between the test tube (in vitro) reaction observed in the MRT and the actual clinical symptoms (in vivo) experienced by the patient. Major clinical guidelines, such as those from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, do not recommend the use of tests like MRT for diagnosing food allergies due to a lack of validation. These organizations caution that relying on unvalidated testing can lead to unnecessary and potentially nutritionally restrictive diets.
Proponents of the MRT argue that the test is superior to other sensitivity tests, such as IgG antibody testing, because it measures the functional end-point of inflammation rather than an antibody that may simply indicate exposure. While the company cites internal and small-scale studies suggesting symptom reduction in populations with IBS or migraines, the test lacks the support of large-scale, independent, randomized controlled trials. For most practitioners in evidence-based medicine, the standard for identifying food triggers remains a carefully managed elimination and reintroduction diet, guided by clinical observation.