I get a few cards & letters each week, from every corner of the world, requesting information on where to go to get a secretor status test.



There are two ways of determining one's secretor "type." The "gold standard" is the salivary inhibition, or SALIVA SECRETOR TEST ~ its accuracy closely approaches 100%.



This test procedure was developed in conjunction with Great Smokies Diagnostics Laboratories here in the eastern United States, and is not generally available worldwide. While North American Pharmacal can send you the test in the U.S., it is advisable to follow the recommended collection and shipment procedures to the letter if you are sending your sample during warm weather or from very far away (Hawaii, for example). There are some exceptions as to whence NAP can accept these orders: namely, New York State and Canada, due to laws in force that prohibit the shipment of saliva across those borders. To order the saliva secretor test from NAP, click here!



CANADA: Francoise Ouellet has been facilitating secretor test orders for Canadians for over a year now. She lives quite near the U.S. border, and has legal means of requesting, delivering and shipping the tests. Her French BTD mirror site can be found at www.abovie.com, and her email address is sherbrooke@abovie.com. Yes, she speaks English! :-) She is a devoted friend, and this service is only one of the many she has performed over the years for our BTD family.



GREAT BRITAIN and EUROPE: NAP products, including the saliva test, are distributed in all EEC countries by Stacktheme Ltd., the official NAP European distributor. Continental customers may wish to contact Stacktheme Europe for expedited customer service and delivery.



SOUTH AFRICA: Contact the "Western Cape Blood Transfusion Service" at (021) 507 6300 and ask for the Serology Department. They perform both the saliva test and the Lewis test.



The second way to find one's place in the secretor/ nonsecretor universe is to request your "LEWIS TYPE." This is a blood test, and laboratories around the world are equipped to do it on the request of your doctor or clinic. You may well find that your physician or clinic lab head has never heard of it. Don't let that deter you. Contact the lab who usually performs tests for your physician, and ask them to explain it to your ol’ doc there. The labs will know what Lewis typing is.



AUSTRALIA:



Over a year ago, I heard from two Australians who had tracked down the LEWIS test at labs near them. Analytical Reference Laboratories in Melbourne (phone 03 9328 3586, contact name Colm Benson) had plans at that time (February 2001) to offer the saliva test sometime in the future, and now just might be that future. :-) For now, ARL do offer the Lewis test and can coach one’s GP in its significance and interpretation.



General Diagnostic Laboratories, also in Melbourne. Their address is 68 Burwood Highway, Burwood -- consult the local telephone directory for their phone number.



Western Diagnostic Pathology, 74 McCoy St in Myaree WA 6154 (contact Tracey Dickson, 08 9317 0864) is another Australian lab familiar with Lewis typing (and with the Blood Type Diets).





Now, once you’ve obtained your Lewis test result, here is the key to its interpretation:



Le a- b+ This is a Secretor!



Le a+ b- This is a Nonsecretor!



Le a- b- (rare) This is a Lewis Negative person, who may be either a secretor or nonsecretor ~ saliva testing necessary to be sure. Peter recommends these folks use the nonsecretor diet, since their particular health concerns tend to coincide with those of nonsecretors.



Le a+ b+ (VERY rare) Like the Lewis Negative, the Lewis Positive (double positive?) person would need the saliva test to determine secretor status conclusively.



OK! Wherever in the world you are, there is probably a laboratory within hailing distance to help you discover your place in the secretor/nonsecretor yin & yang. Do a bit of "continuing education" on your doctor, contact labs direct if need be, and Good Hunting to you! :-)