Enterolabs

[FreyaUSA]

What is the general concensus about Enterolabs? I've read through all the promo material and it seems like a far better/more reliable method to determine gluten sensitivity/intolerance/celiac disease/whatever than the biopsy methods of the last half century (and blood work of the last 2 decades??? Not sure how long this has been around...) Anyway, what I wonder about though, is the science behind the claims. Anyone know more than what they say? Also, will ALL people have some level of antibodies in their stool?

I would really like to get this done, but $350 is a bit steep, also, I have 3 kids I would like tested since all blood work was "inconclusive so don't worry about it" but all of us are feeling MUCH healthier on a gluten-free diet. (For example, my 6 yr old will get diarhea and start vomiting about 15-30 minutes from eating even trace amounts, which I think is something to worry about.)

Anyway, I like validation, though it's not absolutely necessary.

[cdobbs]

myself and 2 kids were tested thru enterolab. i think it was around 175 a piece. my 2yr old and i came back with celiac disease and my 5yr old w gluten sensitivity. my brother and mom were also tested. he came back with nothing and my mom has gluten sensitivity. it was extremely easy and convenient. i am all for enterolab testing. good luck in your decision

cdobbs

[Guest jhmom]

My daughter and I were both tested through Enterolab and received positive results. I trust Dr. Fine and his way of testing and would highly recommend it.

Good luck to you and your family.

[tarnalberry]

Just for a different route, my blood tests were inconclusive, but I did better on the diet, so my doc said "guess you better stick with gluten-free then".

End of story, for me. A positive response to the diet IS a test as well.

[FreyaUSA]

I agree, Tiffany. Even if I got back test after test saying I'm okay with gluten, I wouldn't eat it again. I get migraines from it. I used to get anywhere from 6-12xs a month (with a generalized headache all day, every day.) Not a good way to live. I've also not eaten any red meat in 15 years, why? Because I get sick whenever I do. I was tested negative for a beef allergy, but this hasn't done a thing to convince my stomach to not vomit everything 1/2 hour after even trace amounts of beef are eaten.

Anyway, fyi, I've been reading through as much literature on the Enterolabs testing as I could find. The University of Rome (Something Something) did a test of it and found the results of this kind of testing are a conclusive means for determining gluten intolerance/sensitivity/celiac disease. I read through the entire article and only felt a little boggled at the end. I wonder if this is how they manage to test everyone by the time they're 6 years old like I'd read somewhere. Also, if it's only $175 for the test, that's not nearly as bad as $350... Anyway, I'm going to read up some more and, if it still looks like this is as well researched as it is, I'm going to do it.

[tarnalberry]

Here's the thing... the work Dr. Fine's doing and the work being done in Italy _sound_ like the same test, but as Dr. Fine has not yet published his methods (which I've heard he's working on), we can't know for sure that the lab methods themselves are similar - if they're not, the conclusion that Enterolab's results are accurate based on the Italian research is not logical. (_This_ is the heart of my beef with Enterolab. This sort of issue.) But, a lot of people have found them helpful, and the "urban legend" that "everyone tests positive" is not true, according to all the message boards I've read!

[FreyaUSA]

Very interesting, Tiffany. Which, puts me in the exact same spot as before. Lol! How long has Dr. Fine been doing these tests?

And, since I accidentally got into gluten AGAIN this week (that's twice in one week where I've managed to avoid it for weeks and weeks prior!) I have no desire to return to a gluten consuming lifestyle anyway. Migraines suck

[tarnalberry]

He's been doing them for a while. And I'm really not trying to bad-mouth him in any way - it would not surprise me if, after he publishes his methods and others independently verify it - that his methodology is confirmed. It just has not been independently confirmed yet - that doesn't mean it's wrong. I come from an applied science background, which is why I'm so hung up on it, but they have done a lot of people on this board good, so I can't in good concious discourage anyone from using them. Then again, I'm diagnosed by dietary challenge, so you can see how much "objective" medical tests mean to me at the end of the day. ;-)