Can a celiac blood test be false-positive?

[Hulia]

Hi. I performed the celiac blood test and it is positive. I am quite not sure about the diagnosis because I feel just a few of the symptoms like abdominal pain and fatigue. And it has not constant relation to gluten consumption. I also experience anemia outbreaks. I have an appointment within the month. Can a positive celiac test mean something else?

[cristiana]

Hi Hulia

Welcome to the forum!

Can you post your results for us.  There are different tests taken, it would be good to know which you had.

Cristiana

[Hulia]

  On 8/10/2021 at 5:23 PM, cristiana said:

Hi Hulia

Welcome to the forum!

Can you post your results for us.  There are different tests taken, it would be good to know which you had.

Cristiana

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Hi Cristiana, 
Thank you. 
The result just says: POSITIVE. 

This result means that blood sample contains anti-t-TG IgA type antibodies and that you should consult a doctor.

[trents]

  On 8/10/2021 at 5:47 PM, Hulia said:

Hi Cristiana, 
Thank you. 
The result just says: POSITIVE. 

This result means that blood sample contains anti-t-TG IgA type antibodies and that you should consult a doctor.

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The tTg-IGA is the most specific blood antibody test for Celiac disease. If it is positive, even a weak positive, the chances are very high that you have celiac disease. All the symptoms you list are classic celiac symptoms. No one person will experience the entire  range of symptoms that are  common to the celiac population as a whole. 

Did you do a home test or was this ordered by a doctor?

If you wish further confirmation you should pursue an endoscopy with biopsy of the small bowel lining which is the gold standard.

Because your reaction to gluten exposure is inconsistent you may have caught it at an early stage.

[Hulia]

Thank you for the explanation. I just read the short article which describes the possible causes of the positive celiac test. But is very unlikely I have any of these conditions. I am not sure if it's allowed to post links here. If there are any other materials about this topic, please send me the links.

[trents]

Yes, you can post links here.

[cristiana]

Hi Hulia

Do send that link, as trents says, it's fine for that kind of thing.  But out of interest, where did you get tested for coeliac disease?  Was it a test you sent off for or at your doctors' surgery?   

Cristiana

[Hulia]

Hi Cristiana. I did a home-based test. I bought it online. Do you think it could be not reliable? 
I found the article here https://testnord.uk/uncategorized/can-a-positive-celiac-blood-test-mean-something-else/ 
It also points out that I need to do a biopsy of the small bowel lining for a more precise diagnosis. I heard it's painful when they put the endoscope through your mouth. Kind of scared of this procedure and hopefully the doctor can diagnose it without that. 
 

[cristiana]

Hi Hulia

I think in your shoes - this is just my personal opinion and I should say I don't know anything about the reliability of home testing - I'd be inclined to get a blood test from a GP, as you will get to know how abnormal your test was.  This can then be used as a benchmark to show how well you are recovering when you adopt a gluten free diet.

But have  a chat with your GP - s/he may be perfectly happy to refer you for an endoscopy with the home kit, or might prefer you to go through an NHS blood test first.

Cristiana

[Hulia]

I have a meeting with my GP the next Wednesday. I would definetly ask for more tests done. Thank you for your guidance. 

[cristiana]

No problem at all.   And thanks for sending that link - yes, it's funny you should send that as I vaguely recall a few threads on this website which mentioned tTg tests being affected by other autoimmune conditions.   But as you think it is unlikely it is caused by these,  it does sound as if coeliac may well be responsible.  

I hope the testing goes well and do come back to us if you need any further help.

[GodsGal]

  On 8/11/2021 at 3:48 PM, Hulia said:

Hi Cristiana. I did a home-based test. I bought it online. Do you think it could be not reliable? 
I found the article here https://testnord.uk/uncategorized/can-a-positive-celiac-blood-test-mean-something-else/ 
It also points out that I need to do a biopsy of the small bowel lining for a more precise diagnosis. I heard it's painful when they put the endoscope through your mouth. Kind of scared of this procedure and hopefully the doctor can diagnose it without that. 
 

Expand Quote  

Hi Hulia,

I agree that you should probably consult your doctor. I think that mine was caught in the beginning of my "Celiac crisis", so it was not blatantly obvious. But, after going gluten free, I started noticing symptoms that I thought were normal for me starting to go away. 

I don't know what options are available to you if you do need an endoscopy.  I can't speak to everyone's experience. I was offered a choice between conscious sedation or going under general anesthesia. I chose general anesthesia. I have no memory of anything beyond getting on the bed in the procedure room. I had no pain, and I woke up feeling like I had just taken a nap. I was a little groggy, but not loopy. 

I hope this helps!

[Neroli D]

I concur with what others have said about the endoscopy. I had inconclusive blood tests, my doctor even did the gene test and I have one of the Celiac genes, but that didn't really help with diagnosis. I became aware that my doctor didn't really know much about celiac disease (she is an excellent doctor otherwise!) so I did a lot of phoning around and located another doctor who has gluten sensitivity herself - not celiac disease - but she works closely with a gastroenterologist and is up to date on recent research about celiac disease, IBS, gluten sensitivity etc. She told me that the only way to diagnose celiac disease for sure is the endoscopy, because blood tests are unreliable both ways - there can be false positive and false negative results, and she wouldn't have bothered with the gene test either because even with or without the 'Celiac genes' there can be some anomalies. I'm waiting for my endoscopy now.