Question About Ttg Iga

[birdie22]

Is there any other reason than celiac that would cause a tTg IgA to be even slightly elevated? Do "normal" people have some tTg IgA in their systems?

 

The reason that I ask is that mine was tested recently. Now, I've been gluten-free since Nov 2011 and did (with advice from my doc and my own desire) a gluten challenge in July (I'm diagnosed NCGS). I only lasted 12 days on the challenge and broke out in a lacy full body rash, joint pain, heartburn, etc. I already had the lab request paperwork from my doc for the tTg and a CBC so I went ahead and did the lab work even though I knew the tTg wouldn't be accurate. I didn't get the lab work done for a month AFTER I stopped the challenge. Again, knew a 12 day challenge wasn't long enough for accurate results so having it done a month later wasn't really going to matter.

 

I got my results today and the tTg IgA was 5.4 (ref range 0-19.9 negative). My total IgA was 204 (ref range 70-400). 

 

So I'm curious 5.4 isn't 0 but it's also well below the 19.9. Could it be possible to have low amounts of tTg normally circulating?

[kareng]

My best guess is - Its either a normal occurrence in humans or an inherent issue with the test.  That is why they have a range for normal.  For some reason, tests in healthy people may have a small amount of what is being tested for.  Or, the test has an issue that this normal range fixes.