Enterolab Reliable?

[horsegirl]

Has anyone ever had negative results from the tests done at EnteroLab?

Seems like everyone I've read about on these forums has always had positive results.

Do they always give positive results to everyone? Seems like some people might not test positive?

Just considering all my options; I'm new to all of this & trying to figure out what to do next!

Thanks!

[GeoffCJ]

Has anyone ever had negative results from the tests done at EnteroLab?

Seems like everyone I've read about on these forums has always had positive results.

Do they always give positive results to everyone? Seems like some people might not test positive?

Just considering all my options; I'm new to all of this & trying to figure out what to do next!

Thanks!

This has been discussed before, but yes, people do test negative. Of course, here on this site, it make perfect sense that most people would test positive. People without celiacs are unlikely to spend much time here, and I would agree that Enterolab seems to have the highest percentage of positive answers.

Geoff

[JenKuz]

Has anyone ever had negative results from the tests done at EnteroLab?

Seems like everyone I've read about on these forums has always had positive results.

Do they always give positive results to everyone? Seems like some people might not test positive?

Just considering all my options; I'm new to all of this & trying to figure out what to do next!

Thanks!

Hi Horsegirl,

I think what you're noticing is a thing called "selection bias." The people who come here are those who have either directly diagnosed celiac disease, or else unresolvable gi symptoms.

The tests that enterolabs does are identical to the blood tests for anti-tissue transglutaminase and anti-gliadin antibodies. They use the same antibodies in the assay, and the same reagents. I looked into this before having the tests myself. the only difference is that they test stool instead of blood. This actually makes more biological sense, as the igA class of antibodies are produced basically only in the intestines (and breastmilk). If you accept the blood test, then you should accept the enterolabs tests as well.

1 in 133 people have celiac disease, but most are undiagnosed. Enterolabs tests are more sensitive than the other test, which only diagnose about 1 in 10 of the people who have gluten intolerance problems. Many of those people come here for help, so its no wonder that many of the enterolab results for people on this board are positive....

[AndreaB]

My husband is the only one who tested negative in our family and he has two celiac genes. He went gluten free with the rest of us though.