Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

What Is The Tube Test?

girlfromclare

Recommended Posts

girlfromclare Apprentice
girlfromclare
Posted

Hi everyone,

I went with my husband to his first consultation with a celiac specialist yesterday. She thinks its a very strong possibility that he is a celiac. Especially going on the leaps and bounds our son has improved on since starting his gluten-free diet and also considering his long list of gastro issues! Anyway, she has scheduled him to come back for his 'tube test' which a presuming is the endoscopy... but how much does that tell? What is the procedure here? And does the biopsy come after this? What is the procedure for the biopsy? I am a bit confused about all of this... and would welcome any one shedding a bit of light on it for me... hubbie is a bit nervous now about everything. I want to put his mind at rest. Also, if this tube test shows damage... can he then decide that he is a celiac and not bother with a biopsy?

Thanks everyone!!!

Liz x x x x

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Hi, The tube test you refer to is most likely the endoscopy. This is when they should be taking the biopsies. You should request that they take multiple biopsies from various areas while they are in there. You should know that depending on how long he has been gluten-free and how gluten-free he has been, the test could show a positive (villi flatening or changes) or a negative. There can be false negatives on the endo when people have either started healing or when they do not biopsy the right place.

If he has had a positive blood test and positive, even if so far limited, improvement on the diet this is really diagnostic in itself.

Most have no problems with the endo procedure and if he is nervous he should call and talk to a nurse about it. She will be able to explain what to expect and set his mind at ease.

I hope he gets some relief soon.

girlfromclare Apprentice
girlfromclare
Posted
  • Author

Thank you!! Hubbie hasnt been gluten free at all yet. I told him to stay on it as much as possible until he gets a result either way. His blood results showed nothing but the celiac specialist told us that didnt really mean anything. Hopefully she will take multiple samples like you suggest. Our son is obviously a celiac and has had huge results on the diet so we are pretty sure hubbie is the same.

Thanks for your reply!

Liz x

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

With a celiac son even if his tests are negative you may want to go ahead and have him give the diet a try. You may even want to make your home totally gluten-free, it won't hurt and will cut down on CC risks.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. MogwaiStripe
      - MogwaiStripe posted a topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      0

      Dermatitis Herpetiformis Cleared up With EpiPen, etc.

      I had to rush to the hospital last week due to anaphylactic shock from taking a dose of an antibiotic. Received EpiPen, steroids, antihistamines, zofran (all injected/IV). When I woke up the next day, ALL of the rashes I've had that started since going gluten free were cleared up. EVEN THE dermatitis herpetiformis was gone. Has anyone else experienced this...
    2. Dr. Gunn
      - Dr. Gunn replied to MicG's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Test interpretations

      Exactly! Negative genetics can rule out celiac disease with close to 100% certainty. It takes tTg antibody testing and biopsy confirm the diagnosis in a genetically susceptible individual.
    3. trents
      - trents replied to MicG's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Test interpretations

      What Dr. Gunn states is essentially true. It is a rule out measure. But be aware that to possess either of the two primary genes that have been identified with celiac disease (or both) doesn't necessarily mean that you have or will develop celiac disease. Almost 40% of the general population carries one or both but only about 1% of the general population...
    4. Dr. Gunn
      - Dr. Gunn replied to MicG's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      7

      Test interpretations

      Have you had celiac genetic risk testing? A celiac genetic test is accurate with or without gluten in your diet. If you don't carry the celiac risk genes you can effectively rule out celiac disease for life.
    5. Aretaeus Cappadocia
      - Aretaeus Cappadocia commented on Scott Adams's article in Spring 2026 Issue
      1

      How Social Media Algorithms Are Fueling Gluten Anxiety: TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram Trends

      Good, balanced analysis. I liked the comparison of the different platforms in this context. Fwiw, the same essay largely would work if you substitute any of many contemporary topics. As a moderator of this site, have you stepped back and considered how this site fits into this essay? Personally, I don't think I have enough visibility into the comments...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,661
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Penny W
    Newest Member
    Penny W
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • MogwaiStripe
      Dermatitis Herpetiformis Cleared up With EpiPen, etc.

      By MogwaiStripe · Posted

      I had to rush to the hospital last week due to anaphylactic shock from taking a dose of an antibiotic. Received EpiPen, steroids, antihistamines, zofran (all injected/IV). When I woke up the next day, ALL of the rashes I've had that started since going gluten free were cleared up. EVEN THE dermatitis herpetiformis was gone. Has anyone else experienced this or happen to know why that would happen? The meds they gave me were all meds that I've taken to try to resolve the rashes, but they never worked in pill form. I'm wondering if it the addition of the epi that helped, it if injected steroids and antihistamines were what did the job.
    • Dr. Gunn
      Test interpretations

      By Dr. Gunn · Posted

      Exactly! Negative genetics can rule out celiac disease with close to 100% certainty. It takes tTg antibody testing and biopsy confirm the diagnosis in a genetically susceptible individual. 
    • trents
      Test interpretations

      By trents · Posted

      What Dr. Gunn states is essentially true. It is a rule out measure. But be aware that to possess either of the two primary genes that have been identified with celiac disease (or both) doesn't necessarily mean that you have or will develop celiac disease. Almost 40% of the general population carries one or both but only about 1% of the general population will develop active celiac disease. It remains latent until triggered by some stress event which may or may not occur. So, there is a genetic component to celiac disease but there is also an epigenetic component. 
    • Dr. Gunn
      Test interpretations

      By Dr. Gunn · Posted

      Have you had celiac genetic risk testing? A celiac genetic test is accurate with or without gluten in your diet. If you don't carry the celiac risk genes you can effectively rule out celiac disease for life. 
    • Scott Adams
      Test interpretations

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Based on those results alone, it’s not possible to say you have celiac disease. The test that is usually most specific for celiac, tTG-IgA, is negative in your results, and the endomysial antibody (EMA) is also negative, which generally argues against active celiac disease. However, your deamidated gliadin IgA is elevated, and your total IgA level is also high, which can sometimes affect how the other antibody tests behave. Another important factor is that you were reducing gluten before the test, which can lower antibody levels and make the results less reliable. Because of that, many doctors recommend a gluten challenge (eating gluten regularly for several weeks) before repeating blood tests or considering an endoscopy if symptoms and labs raise concern. It would be best to review these results with a gastroenterologist, who can interpret them in context and decide whether further testing is needed.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.