gluten testing Attn.: Shonda

[Guest guest]

Hi Shonda, If you have been strictly gf for this long is is highly unlikely your testing will show antibodies to gluten. Sadly, many doctors waste their patients' (or insurance) money. It is possible there will be some reaction but a negative test will not mean you are not a celiac. Additionally, 5% of celiacs are IgA deficient and will not react to the normal celiac panel since they are unable to form the IgA antibodies tested for (yet are still celiacs). Your doctor should run a total IgA level prior to ordering this testing and testing should be done at a reliable lab specializing in this. Regular commercial labs are not a good choice. Specialty Labs, IMCO, U. land, Prometheus are suggested ones that are careful and have adequately trained people interpreting the tests. Sometimes if celiac is strongly suspected and the patient is understandably unwilling to do a gluten challenge, a biopsy may be suggested. There are certain signs good clinicians will recognize in the results that will convince the examiner that celiac is present. Doesn't change much overall, but may convince the patient to remain on a careful diet. It is also a red flag for other family members. I was in a similar situation. My biopsy was positive and subsequently 2 of my children were diagnosed and one grandchild. One child and one grandchild

were additionally biopsied and found negative. The grandchild because of his age will be followed until adulthood. We are all IgA deficient and the blood serologies are not helpful. Hope this helps, Gen

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your reply. This is what I was afraid of. I really didn't

show any improvement removing gluten alone before SCD, so i doubt it is

a problem for me, but you never know. I told this GI that I had been

off gluten for quite some time. Seems pretty typical though.

Shonda

SCD 6months