Family Testing After One Member Diagnosed

[momma bee]

Just a question but after my baby was diagnosed with celiac by biopsy it was recommended we all as first degree relatives get tested. We proceeded to do that and my one child, my husband and myself all have some potential symptoms. All of us by our various different drs were all ordered only the tTg IgA test and all have come back negative so we were relieved. However, after the relief has past I am getting a tad but curious as my baby's blood tests were all negative (but she made enough antibodies). If hers were not positive but her biopsy was does that mean we all might actually be in the same position that this would be a false screen on its own?

[mushroom]

Many doctors, for reasons known only to themselves, consider it necessary only to do the tTG -- oftentimes without even the accompanying total serum IgA for validation.  Yes, as your child proved, it is possible to be positive on biopsy and negative on blood screening.  However, there are several different blood screening tests, and it is possible to be negative on one or more and perhaps only positive on one.  More and more, that one that shows up positive is the DGP (either IgA or IgG).  This is the newest blood test developed for celiac and the one most specific and sensitive to celiac, although not so commonly part of the doctor's arsenal of tests, which is a pity, because it is good at picking up early or latent celiac before a lot of damage has been done.