Genetic Testing

[pdm1981]

I'm going to the Cincinnati VA Hospital this Tuesday to see about getting genetic testing done for celiac disease. My original biopsy was screwed up because the doctor told me to go on a gluten-free diet before the scope. The results were no good because I had been on the diet for 3 weeks. I don't want to get sick again just in case I do definitely have it so I want the genetic testing done. I just want to get it right though. If I don't have the gene, I can't have celiac disease or can I?

[rehh05]

That is correct as I understand it. The genetic testing only shows if it is possible to become Celiac. My doctor had me do it to rule out celiac... I had been gluten free for a year when I talked to him about the possibility of celiac. My blood rest was negative (because of being gluten free). After the genetic test showed that I carried the genetic disposition, he had an endoscopy done. That confirmed the celiac diagnosis as I had damage and celiac indicators in there. That was 5 years ago. 

[ravenwoodglass]

Doctors check for the two most common genes but there are others.  We stilll have a lot to learn about all the genes associated with celiac and more than those two have been identified. So no the gene test can not absolutely rule it out if you don't have DQ2 or DQ8. I am an example of that as a firmly diagnosed celiac I carry a double copy of DQ9 which has only recently been recognized as associated with celiac.