Can You Help Me Decipher Test #'s?

[Jane-MomfromMN]

Hi-

I was on yesterday asking about my 17-month-old daughter who tested positive for Celiac. Someone asked me if I knew the numbers of her tests. They asked if I had a "full" Celiac screen done. I am not sure what they did if it was a "full" screen or not? Anyway, here is what I have for the test results.

Test Name: Celiac Disease Panel

Gliadin Antibody (IGA)= 30H

Immunoglobulin A= 51

Can you tell me what this means and if I need to ask anything at her GI appt? Did I get a "full" Celiac screen? I just don't want to go through another Dr.'s appt with my daughter and have them tell me she is okay. That's what happened in the past, until I begged for them to do more tests and they finally told me she tested positive for Celiac. I just want to make sure that they do everything they can for her and I do not have to pay 6-8 co-pays before they finally get things right.

Thank you!

[zarfkitty]

Hi Jane,

It looks like only IgA for anti-gliadin and total serum IgA were run. The full panel is:

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgA

Anti-Gliadin (AGA) IgG

Anti-Endomysial (EMA) IgA

Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA

Total Serum IgA

Also, what are the reference ranges for the tests that were run? (The reference range says what a healthy person's number should be lower than.)

If the anti-gliandin is positive, you have enough information to suspect celiac, though. Something's definitely up with gluten if that antibody is too high. Some people are negative for anti-gliandin IgA which is why the full panel is so important. I can't remember from your other post if you are going ahead with the biopsy or not? Some doctors will let raised antibodies and positive dietary response stand alone for a diagnosis.

I'm new to all this, too. This forum is a wonderful place to get help!!

[Jane-MomfromMN]

Thank you Thank you for your reply!

The paper they gave me says:

Gliadin Antibody (IGA)

<11 Negative

11-17 Equivocal

>17 Positive

My daughter's score 30.

More ?'s

Anyone know what Immunoglobulin A is? My daugher's number= 51

[Jane-MomfromMN]

Oh, oops... we are going to have the biopsy done. She has an appt with a GI specialist but it's aout 3 wks away. We have been waiting for about 2 1/2 mts to see him so I figured I could see if I could get some answers on here. This is all new to me too. I was shocked when they told me Celiac. I am told it is hereditary. Now I am wondering who else in my family might have it.

[zarfkitty]

Immunoglobulin A = IgA. IgA is a particular kind of antibody that the immune system uses. Celiac people make IgA against gliandin (part of the gluten molecule) but you normally make IgA against lots of things. It's important to test the total number when testing for a specific kind so you can catch it if the patient has IgA deficiency. If the patient has deficiency, the anti-gliandin IgA wouldn't show up at all and give a false negative.

So it's good that they tested it. Did they give you the reference range on that one?

Keep her on gluten until that biopsy. If you take her off, she could heal before the appointment and not be diagnosed.

[happygirl]

It was me who asked

Definitely have the full celiac blood panel run before she goes gluten-free (if she does.)

Print out the above list from the Columbia Celiac Center's webpage, bring to your doctor, and tell them you want them all run. If you are going through the process of being tested, its important to have all the information (not just 'part' of it). This is one of the leading Celiac researchers, experts, physicians, etc.

Open Original Shared Link

"Serologic panel

Of the commercially available serologic tests that aid in the diagnosis of celiac disease, no one test is ideal. Using multiple serologies increases the diagnostic yield. Therefore, in the United States, screening in patients with possible celiac disease should consist of a panel of the following serologic tests:

Anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) both IgA and IgG

Anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA) - IgA

Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG) - IgA

Total IgA level.

The reason for the use of the panel to detect celiac disease is several fold. They include selective IgA deficiency (SIgA deficiency), lack of concordance of endomysial antibody and tTG, and the occurrence of seronegative celiac disease. "