<<Disclaimer:  Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
 
              AVAILABILITY OF FUNGAL METABOLITE TESTING
 
The Autism , Intolerance and Allergy Network USA  (AIA) is an organization
which facilitates the dissemination of medical research information to
parents, educators, and medical professionals who work with autistic
individuals.  As part of this information dissemination, AIA will
communicate and at times assist in the coordination of certain testing
related to researching the biochemical foundations of autism.
 
At this time, AIA is pleased to announce the availability of a test for
fungal metabolites in the urine of autistic individuals.  Dr. William Shaw
at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO is testing for abnormal
urine organic acids associated with fungal metabolism in urine samples of
children with autism.
 
In order to expedite this testing AIA will be collecting names of
individuals who wish to participate in this organic acid testing at
Children's Mercy Hospital. These names will be faxed directly to Dr. Shaw by
AIA .  Upon Dr. Shaw's receipt of these names, a test kit/ instructions and
a copy of the abstract entitled "Abnormal Urine Organic Acids Associated
with Fungal Metabolism in Urine Samples of Children with Autism: Preliminary
Results of a Clinical Trial with Antifungal Drugs" will be sent directly to
each participant.   Should you wish to read this abstract prior to sending
for the kit, see the Proceedings of the Autism Society of America 1995
Conference (contact your state
autism society for a copy )  or the August 1995 issue of Clinical Chemistry.
 
Be advised that this urine test requires a doctor's signature, so please
discuss the test with your doctor or pediatrician PRIOR to requesting the
package.  Please share this abstract with your doctor or pediatrician. The
cost of each test is $200.00 (US).  Please contact your insurance carrier
regarding coverage.  You may also wish to have any siblings of the autistic
individual tested as well. A marked number of siblings of autistics have
shown abnormal urine organic acid profiles.
 
To participate in this testing please send an e-mail to: ([log in to unmask])
Please use the following format:
 
Name (Legal Guardian)
Name of Test Participant
Diagnosis      Age        Sex
Mailing Address
Phone Number
*Request Tape-on-Bag?
*If your child is not yet potty-trained, please request a "tape- on-bag" in
your note.
The urine sample requested is a single sample, not a 24-hour collection.
 
If you give this notice to someone who may not have e-mail, they may send a
letter using the same format to :    AIA-USA  Test Request  5605 Dutchman
Dr. Raleigh, NC 27606.
 
Please note that AIA is serving ONLY as a facilitator and will NOT have
access to your test results. Furthermore you will NOT be solicited by the
AIA Network USA.  Test results will be faxed directly to your doctor.
However should you wish to share your results with the AIA, they would
remain strictly confidential and be used for aggregation/statistical
purposes ONLY.  To insure confidentiality, names will not be associated with
your results.
 
Thank you for considering this testing.  If you would like more information
on the Autism Intolerance and Allergy Network USA please contact the
Feingold Association at 1-800-321-FAUS and request the FREE  AIA -USA
information flyer. ( AIA Network USA is a new program of the Feingold
Association.)
 
Yours in the Search,
Deborah Tritschler
Director, AIA-Network USA
Brian Flagg/Deborah Tritschler
AIA Network-USA