What Is The Tube Test?

[girlfromclare]

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

[ravenwoodglass]

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]

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]

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.