How Accurate Is Blood Testing

[lopo7883]

Hi everyone-

My doctor just sent me a blood lab with a full celiac panel. I'm not sure what else I can get tested for, but I figure that's the best place to start. I already have a thyroid problem... that I suspect I've had virtually most of my life but have only been medicated for four years... So I guess, according to many things I read and my doc, there is a slightly increased chance I could also have celiac disease.

My big question is, how many people are diagnosed or at least given a positive idea that they have celiac disease by blood tests? When i read this board I see that a lot of people have positive responses to following a gluten free diet but that many are not given officla diagnosis from blood work. While I realize that even if you get a positive diagnosis from blood work- you still have to go have a biopsy to officially see damage done to your body, what if you have silent celiac , or traditional symptoms of celiac that surface only on occasion, and negative blood work. I think it would be much more difficult to see a response to a gluten free diet that way, seeing as how you either dont have many or dont have traditional symptoms of celiac disease (that seem so horrrrrible.)

So just in general, how many people do respond to the bloodwork and does anything trigger a positive response in some people and negative response in others even if they are both suffering from celiac disease?

Thanks!

[KaitiUSA]

I was diagnosed by bloodwork alone. My doctor used a full panel and a gene test and didn't think it was necessary for anything else. The full panel has some very accurate tests in there for celiac.

Biopsies can only rule celiac in but not out. If you have beginning stages or have sporadic damage they can miss it.

Some people may find it harder to stick to the diet when they do not have symptoms...even if they have an official diagnosis but some people have no problem with it...it depends on the person but any celiac needs to stick with the diet 100% symptoms or not because damage will occur either way.

[discountshopper]

My 10 year old niece who has had "gastro issues" for 5 years was the first family member to get tested. Her blood work came back "equivocal" in only one area but her (brilliant) pediatric gastoenterologist decided that was enough to do a biopsy. The biopsy confirmed, without a doubt, that she had celiac. Since her diagnosis, there have been 3 others within 3 generations who have been diagnosed. Other family members were diagnosed through the celiac panel and genetic testing, AND gluten-free diet response. Each person had completely different symptoms or "issues" and no one thought they would have it. So, because of one family member's biopsy confirmation, the rest were able to avoid that step of the diagnosis.