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False positive serology- likelihood?

Belinda Beynon
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Belinda Beynon Rookie
Belinda Beynon
Posted

Good morning (in Perth, Australia),

I recently had a blood test for Coeliac Disease which was positive. I don’t know which type of test it was, as I understand there are some different ones, but have requested my records. I have been referred for biopsies and am awaiting my appointment. I will continue to eat gluten in the meantime (although I wouldn’t have said I ate a lot to start with, but a lot must be hidden in my diet). 

I was the one who raised the possibility of celiac disease with my GP, and she was truly surprised that I was positive. 
My list of symptoms is long, and of course, may not all be due to celiac disease (if confirmed). 

I have been reading everything I can get my hands on since getting the blood result. 

I am of the understanding that the blood tests have high sensitivity, and therefore, chances are that my biopsies will be positive. Does this seem likely to the wise folk in here? I am 53yo woman and, depending on which symptoms I consider, I may have been experiencing this for up to 17 years.

Thanks in advance. 

 

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trents Grand Master
trents
Posted

Welcome to the forum, Belinda!

Not all the blood tests are highly sensitive. The most commonly used blood antibody test is the tTG-IGA. It combines good specificity with good sensitivity. Some of the other tests may be more specific for Celiac disease but less sensitive. Here is an overview of antibody tests that can be run for Celiac disease: https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/screening-and-diagnosis/screening/

Belinda Beynon Rookie
Belinda Beynon
Posted
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1 hour ago, trents said:

Welcome to the forum, Belinda!

Not all the blood tests are highly sensitive. The most commonly used blood antibody test is the tTG-IGA. It combines good specificity with good sensitivity. Some of the other tests may be more specific for Celiac disease but less sensitive. Here is an overview of antibody tests that can be run for Celiac disease: https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/screening-and-diagnosis/screening/

Thanks for the rapid reply :)

I am assuming I have had the tTG-IGA but will wait for my notes to come through from my GP I suppose :)

 

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