Question regarding Blood Testing in UK

[Angela1287]

Hi everyone! 
 

I have a quick question regarding celiac blood testing in the UK. 
 

Can someone tell me the difference between the following tests:

 

Total immunoglobulin A (IgA)

IgA Tissue transglutaminase antibody (shortened to tTG)

 

I have only been given one result from my doctors surgery, it was simply read out to me over the phone as follows:

 

Immunoglobin 1.30 with a range of 0.65-4.21.

 

I have absolutely no further information and the receptionist I spoke to was unclear if they are awaiting further results. Waiting a call back but they take such a long time.

 

Angela
 

 

[cristiana]

2 hours ago, Angela1287 said:

Immunoglobin 1.30 with a range of 0.65-4.21.

 

Hi Angela

I totally understand your frustration.  

Do you think the receptionist gave you what the normal range was for their labs?  Every lab should provide normal parameters alongside test results - if so, it sounds rather as if 0.65-4.21 is that lab's normal range.

I have googled one of my favourite NHS websites (https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/pathology/tests/immunoglobulins-igg-iga-igm/) and they give these numbers as being within the normal immunoglobulin ranges for their labs:

Reference range

Adult ranges:
IgA: 0.9–4.5g/L

I think in your position I'd contact the surgery to find out if you are waiting for more test results to come through.  It sounds like you could be waiting for one more to come back.

Cristiana

 

Edited June 22, 2022 by cristiana

[Angela1287]

4 minutes ago, cristiana said:

Hi Angela

I totally understand your frustration.  Our overstretched NHS does amazing work but sometimes this involves a lot of waiting.

Do you think the receptionist gave you what the normal range was for their labs?  Every lab should provide normal parameters alongside test results - if so, it sounds rather as if 0.65-4.21 is that lab's normal range.

I have googled one of my favourite NHS websites (https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/pathology/tests/immunoglobulins-igg-iga-igm/) and they give these numbers as being within the normal immunoglobulin ranges for their labs:

Reference range

Adult ranges:
IgG: 6-16g/L
IgA: 0.9–4.5g/L
IgM: 0.5-2.0g/L

I think in your position I would ask what tests had actually been ordered to clarify if you are waiting for something else.   Sometimes a doctor's secretary can be helpful in this regard.

Cristiana

 

Hi Cristiana,

Thank you for this ☺️

Yes, it’s my understanding that those are the normal ranges.

What I’m mostly confused about is that she described 1.30 as my immunoglobin result. I don’t understand if that means my total immunoglobin or if that’s my tTG result. 
 

It’s so confusing and no one seems to want to get in touch to clarify.

 

Angela

[cristiana]

I hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong but it looks to me as if you are still waiting for the tTG result.   Hopefully this was ordered by your doctor.  Do please check this was done.   Coeliac UK recommend the NHS to order both. 

I am not scientific so I find it very difficult to assimilate anything which involves acronyms, figures and the like, but looking at the link below might help you understand the difference between the two tests. I hazily recall my gastroenterologist told my tTG result was a very strong positive, but my other test wasn't remarkable, so it seems it's important to have both.

Sorry as I don't think I'm best placed to answer your query very well - but I am sure someone else will.

https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/blog/confused-celiac-disease-lab-results/

Edited June 22, 2022 by cristiana

[Angela1287]

15 minutes ago, cristiana said:

I hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong but it looks to me as if you are still waiting for the tTG result.   Hopefully this was ordered by your doctor.  Do please check this was done.   Coeliac UK recommend the NHS to order both. 

I am not scientific so I find it very difficult to assimilate anything which involves acronyms, figures and the like, but looking at the link below might help you understand the difference between the two tests. I hazily recall my gastroenterologist told my tTG result was a very strong positive, but my other test wasn't remarkable, so it seems it's important to have both.

Sorry as I don't think I'm best placed to answer your query very well - but I am sure someone else will.

https://www.rootcausemedicalclinics.com/blog/confused-celiac-disease-lab-results/

Thank you!! I suspect the same! 

Will give the doctors a call today to find out what's going on. Will report back!

Angela :-)

[Angela1287]

Called the surgery today and was advised by the receptionist ‘not celiac’ however that was her reading from a note left by a nurse with no further info. 
 

I asked if she had any figures for me, the types of test done and the ranges and she advised ‘I wouldn’t know’. 
 

I’ve since requested a print out of everything and they said it would take 30 days for them to supply the information. 
 

I think for now I will have to assume my result was negative. 
 

Thank you for all your help Cristiana!

 

Angela

[cristiana]

Hi Angela

How frustrating to have to wait for the printout.  But at least you will know in a month.

Do come back to us then.   

I ought to just say, however, that I had a tTG test done some months ago and it arrived many days after the other blood tests came in.   Possibly about ten days later, I can't recall.  No idea why, but this may happen to you.   

Anyway, meanwhile take care and keep us posted. 

Cristiana

 

[Angela1287]

1 minute ago, cristiana said:

Hi Angela

How frustrating to have to wait for the printout.  But at least you will know in a month.

Do come back to us then.   

I ought to just say, however, that I had a tTG test done some months ago and it arrived many days after the other blood tests came in.   Possibly about ten days later, I can't recall.  No idea why, but this may happen to you.   

Anyway, meanwhile take care and keep us posted. 

Cristiana

 

Hmmm… that’s interesting. I guess I will just have to hang tight and see what happens next. I’d hope that they will contact me should any other results arrive. 
 

Really appreciate your help, it’s hard finding information relating to UK testing… and even harder trying to understand the information I have found 😁

[Angela1287]

Hi! I eventually got my test results back... seems I'm not Celiac.

Total Immunoglobin A (IgA) - 1.30 with a range of 0.65 - 4.21

tTg (IgA) - 0.2 (I was informed that <4 is negative)

They are now testing me for H Pylori as I have a ferritin level of 13 and getting weaker by the day (even on Ferrous Fumarate).

Angela

[T burd]

50 minutes ago, Angela1287 said:

Hi! I eventually got my test results back... seems I'm not Celiac.

Total Immunoglobin A (IgA) - 1.30 with a range of 0.65 - 4.21

tTg (IgA) - 0.2 (I was informed that <4 is negative)

They are now testing me for H Pylori as I have a ferritin level of 13 and getting weaker by the day (even on Ferrous Fumarate).

Angela

What about the others? tTg IgG? 

[Angela1287]

1 hour ago, T burd said:

What about the others? tTg IgG? 

This test wasn't conducted. It seems that the standard testing on the NHS in the UK is the two I had (Total IGA and tTg IGA).

Is it common to have negative tTg IGA and positive tTg IgG?

Angela

[T burd]

1 hour ago, Angela1287 said:

This test wasn't conducted. It seems that the standard testing on the NHS in the UK is the two I had (Total IGA and tTg IGA).

Is it common to have negative tTg IGA and positive tTg IgG?

Angela

Im sure someone else knows better than me stats, but my sister’s igA was negative and her IgG was positive. 

[cristiana]

Hi Angela

I've just checked what the recommended action is for someone in your position on the Coeliac UK website.  Please do have a read and if you feel you have been eating enough gluten, and that isn't the problem,  it suggests the next step you should take.

I'm sorry as this isn't straight forward for you.

Cristiana

https://www.coeliac.org.uk/information-and-support/coeliac-disease/getting-diagnosed/blood-tests-and-biospy/if-your-tests-are-negative/#:~:text=It's possible to have a,realising you had done so.

 

[Angela1287]

Thank you! I've managed to get a referral to a Gastroenterologist so we'll see what they think. It seems unlikely to be Celiac. I'll just be glad to find out whatever it is and get a treatment plan figured out 🙂 

[cristiana]

Congratulations on the referral, I think it will be well worth it.    As you are going through the UK system, I'd read through Coeliac UK's recommendations that apply to your situation beforehand and take notes as these points might be helpful to discuss with a gastroenterologist.  I understand it is possible to have anemia with Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity, so that might be something worth looking at.

https://www.glutenfreesociety.org/gluten-sensitivity-and-iron-deficiency-anemia-are-they-related/