Which Lab Is Best For Testing

[dog lover]

HI, I need to get tested and was looking at enterolab.

What is everyone's opinion of this lab and do you have

suggestions of other labs that are reliable? Thanks, a newbee.

[Guest greengirl]

  dog lover said:

HI, I need to get tested and was looking at enterolab.

What is everyone's opinion of this lab and do you have

suggestions of other labs that are reliable? Thanks, a newbee.

My experience with Enterolab has been great. I know that Dr. Fine gives lectures around the country and also runs a nonprofit Intestinal Health Institute. He has lots of information posted on his website about gluten intolerance, celiac, and the genes that predispose to this condition. Someone else posted that he is sponsoring a gluten free camp this summer and will give nightly lectures at the 4 day event. When I called there for help getting the insurance to cover my tests, they were more than willing to help. (This is still in the works with BCBS but if I can manage to get it covered as an in-network expense, then I think anyone else with BCBS would be able to as well. I'll let you know...). Once you've gotten your results the staff is available for any questions and I know that at least several people on this board have gotten replies from Dr. Fine addressing their individual concerns.

I truly believe that this will be the "gold standard" for diagnosing celiac/gluten intolerance in the future. I had negative results with bloodwork, biopsy, and had many, many lab tests that were inconclusive. Enterolab confirmed what I suspected all along. For my daughter, I skipped all the labwork and went right to enterolab. She had extremely high numbers in every category. We have both had success with the gluten-free diet, and in her case, Gluten-free Casein-free diet, but we did want a diagnosis to be sure. Incidentally, my Gastro specialist accepted the enterolab results as legitimate.

If you can afford the celiac panel I would do that, rather than just the IgA test. In my daughter's case it showed us the severity of her malabsorption and we found out she was casein intolerant. We also found out that she has 2 copies of the gi/celiac genes, which puts her sisters at an even higher risk (we had no idea my husband was passing down a gene, as well!)

Good luck!

Christine

[CarlaB]

I also did the full panel, but did not do the genetic part on my kids. One daughter and I came out positive, the other daughter negative. I, too, was very happy with everything about my experience working with them. My primary care doc accepted the testing. I didn't bother working with my GI doc when he was totally discounting my dietary response after all my tests came back negative, I can only assume what he would have thought of the results.

The thing I like about Enterolab is that you can catch it before it gets so bad that you have damage to your intestines and more autoimmune diseases. My daughter's absorption was great. Mine was borderline, and I took it after three months gluten-free (and things had changed dramatically!!). I can't imagine how sick I would have been if I had waited for the current "gold standard" of a positive biopsy!! This is why so many celiacs are so sick for so long before being diagnosed!

I don't know of other labs like them, so I can't recommend anyone else.

[AndreaB]

I just had my whole family, except the baby, tested by Enterolab. The results came back quickly and before I placed my order Phyllis was very helpful. Haven't talked to anyone else over there. My doctor was willing to run a celiac panel for me but I had been gluten free (or mostly) for 1 1/2 months. Right now my son is my barometer on whether I've eaten something bad. He's pretty sensitive.

[dog lover]

THANKS TO ALL FOR RESPONDING, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT,

AS YOU ALL KNOW THIS ISN'T A PICNIC. I'LL LET YOU

KNOW RESULTS AFTER I GET ALL THIS ORDERED AND SENT BACK.

THANKS AGAIN