Enterolab Valid?

[brizzo]

Just curious as to why most MD's laugh at enterolab's fecal antibody testing. Is there something "screwey" about Dr. Fine that I should be suspect about my results?

When I showed my derm my enterolab results. He said, "I've never heard of a fecal celiac test." "You have to watch that garbage on the net." He asked me to take a blood serum test. I told him that I had been gluten-free for 2-3 months at the time and that I wasn't sure that it wouldn't come back as a false negative. He says, "no, you have to be gluten-free for like 6 months to have a false negative." But I have heard that it only takes about 3 months to test neg. My enterolab #'s where borderline, and I was gluten-free for that test too. So I am sure that my blood test will come back false neg. I should get the results in the next week.

Anyone ever read any acrticles about the validity of enterolab's testing from a medical journal or other peer reviewed source? Would love to read. Thanks, Brizzo

[Guhlia]

I don't have any concrete analytical information on Enterolab. I can, however, assure you that there are people who HAVE gotten negative results, so it's not like they're just diagnosing everyone with Celiac. There are many people here who swear by Enterolab because it saved their lives after years of negative Celiac tests and doctors discouraging them from the gluten free diet. Me personally, I think it's legit and I'm currently in the process of having my two year old tested. My opinion is that doctors are intimidated by the testing because it's more accurate than their own methods of testing. Of course, that's just my opinion.

[brizzo]

I seem to agree with you. I just don't know why Dr. Fine doesn't look to "standerdize" his testing methods through the FDA.

[CarlaB]

One of my daughters tested negative with Enterolab.

I think Dr. Fine is still in the process of researching, etc. I am personally fine with supporting his research with my $ I've sent into Enterolab because in the end it's my dietary response that keeps me on the diet not any lab test. All my blood work was negative, btw, and you can see my Enterolab results below. My ob/gyn does bloodwork for me at my yearly checkup. He doesn't accept Enterolab, but he does accept my dietary response. In fact, he told me to quit looking for clinical proof because my dietary response was clinical proof.

[rez]

I agree, I doubt Enterolab sometimes too, but you can't dispute the gene test. One thing to remember is that they're not claiming to diagnose Celiac. They look for gluten sensitivity. I hope he publishes his journals for peer review as well. We need to keep that pressure on him. My friend did the test last year and they told her the medical journals would be published this year. I just did the test and they said the journals would be published next year. I think that if that keeps happening, then there will be more doubters. In my heart, I feel this test is real and not fake. Why would a successful GI want to risk his reputation. He went to med school just like everyone else and he's trying to make a difference. Hopefully in ten years, we can all look back and say we told you so.

[par18]

Just curious as to why most MD's laugh at enterolab's fecal antibody testing. Is there something "screwey" about Dr. Fine that I should be suspect about my results?

When I showed my derm my enterolab results. He said, "I've never heard of a fecal celiac test." "You have to watch that garbage on the net." He asked me to take a blood serum test. I told him that I had been gluten-free for 2-3 months at the time and that I wasn't sure that it wouldn't come back as a false negative. He says, "no, you have to be gluten-free for like 6 months to have a false negative." But I have heard that it only takes about 3 months to test neg. My enterolab #'s where borderline, and I was gluten-free for that test too. So I am sure that my blood test will come back false neg. I should get the results in the next week.

Anyone ever read any acrticles about the validity of enterolab's testing from a medical journal or other peer reviewed source? Would love to read. Thanks, Brizzo

What was your response to the gluten free diet?

tom

[brizzo]

I had a positive result to being gluten-free. I have DH, and my skin has been about 90% clearer since going gluten-free. I still get the occasional irritation, but I have only been gluten-free for 3 months. My derm says that he can put me on Meds to clear up that other 10%, but I am not going to "poison" my body by taking meds for the rest of my life. (sorry, personal opinion.)

[CarlaB]

I had a positive result to being gluten-free. I have DH, and my skin has been about 90% clearer since going gluten-free. I still get the occasional irritation, but I have only been gluten-free for 3 months. My derm says that he can put me on Meds to clear up that other 10%, but I am not going to "poison" my body by taking meds for the rest of my life. (sorry, personal opinion.)

Was your DH confirmed by biopsy? If so, I really don't see why anyone would require more tests. If your positive for DH, you're positive for celiac.

[brizzo]

self suspected DH with positive enterolab

[hineini]

Brizzo,

I totally hear you. I am in the same situation with a doctor who says my blood tests should be accurate after 4 months gluten-free (and many more months "gluten-light") even though nearly everything I've read says otherwise. I don't even plan to show him my Enterolab results as he's not up-to-date on things and I really doubt he'll take them seriously. I have one celiac gene and one gluten intolerant gene, an extremely positive response to a gluten-free diet (no more diarrhea after every meal, yay!) and most days that's enough for me. Other days, not having a definite diagnosis makes me feel crazy and awful. But when I tried doing the gluten challenge it made me so sick, I don't plan to do it unless my doctor thinks it's critical. I should hear back about my blood test today or Monday.