Iga Testing Question. Have Test Ordered & Want To Make Sure It's The Right One

[holiday16]

I'm getting my blood drawn to check for IGA deficiency. They could not find the test listed under total serum IGA or total IGA, but it seems to be listed as Immunoglobulin A (IGA). That is what the order is for and I would like to double check and make sure it's right. I think it is, but would feel better if someone here could verify it for me )

[NY547]

Yes, IgA or total IgA is short for immunoglobulin A. It tests for your body's ability overall production of the IgA class of antibodies. If you do not produce them anyway, it definately will make the celiac tests for IgA (gliadin and tissue transglutaminase) come back negative, but you could still have celiac,

If this is the case, many labs will reflect the celiac panel to include gliadin IgG and TTg IgG to check for an IgG response. Some labs still routinely check for the IgGs as part of the routine celiac panel.

You are wise to have them check for total IgA as not all labs and Dr's offices perform it as part of a regular celiac screen.

[holiday16]

Yes, IgA or total IgA is short for immunoglobulin A. It tests for your body's ability overall production of the IgA class of antibodies. If you do not produce them anyway, it definately will make the celiac tests for IgA (gliadin and tissue transglutaminase) come back negative, but you could still have celiac,

If this is the case, many labs will reflect the celiac panel to include gliadin IgG and TTg IgG to check for an IgG response. Some labs still routinely check for the IgGs as part of the routine celiac panel.

You are wise to have them check for total IgA as not all labs and Dr's offices perform it as part of a regular celiac screen.

Thank you for your reply. I actually had the celiac panel done 4 years ago which tested for the IgG as well which came back negative and then I tested positive through Enterolab last Nov. In some ways I wish I had run the celiac panel again since it was so long ago, but when I began to cut out all gluten I realized I wasn't eating all that much in the first place and I wonder if that's part of why it was negative. I'm having the IGA tested because it appears there could be a genetic tendency in our family toward low IGA which would skew even the results from Enterolab. Our insurance won't cover the IGA test unless you have the panel done first without it and then if that's negative you can have the IGA test done which is frustrating. So in some ways I'm ordering it for other family members as well as myself. My kids are getting tested and if my IGA comes back low that would be something to take into account. Even if mine comes back normal I'm pushing my sister and mother to get tested as well. My sister had a saliva IGA come back low so she is really supposed to go in and check for IGA deficiency.

Cutting out gluten for me has made a dramatic improvement so there's no doubt that was what was making me so sick which started after I had my youngest daughter. She has it as well, but was diagnosed on symptoms alone since she improved so much after we started eating gluten free. Now we're working on checking the other two kids. I'm really trying to get the best diagnosis for them that I can esp. for my 13 year old since I know if she has it she needs quite a bit of incentive to not cheat. It's certainly not an easy diet for a teen to follow!

Thanks again for confirming that is the right test. Guess I'll go in and have it drawn tomorrow.

[NY547]

You're welcome!

My daughter also had negative blood work and positive results with enterolab. About 4 years ago her Total IgA was just under the normal range, but not enough to be considered a true deficiency. We had it checked again and her #s are a little higher, but still on the low side of the normal range. The IgA test has differant ranges for differant ages. I also wonder if the celiac markers corrsepond to the total amount of antibodies being produced.

My daughter is 15. She also gets much better on the gluten-free diet, but without a definitive diagnosis, she will never stick with it. Also keep in mind that the TTg and gliadin tests correspond to the amount of damge already done to the intestines. The blood tests will often be negative until substantial damage has occured. There have been studies done which show that many people with only partial villous atrophy test negative on blood tests.

When we tested with enterolab, her antibodies were positive, but the fecal fat score was still within the normal range, showing she is having a reaction to gluten, but has no damage yet. In the fall I may retest with enterolab and if her fat score has increased, then I will have the endoscopy done. Until then, she eats normally and when she gets her bouts of illness, or "crashes" as she calls it, I put her on a gluten-free diet for a week or 2. She is always better within a couple days. This approach saved her just prior to taking her finals.

Good luck to you and your family. I agree, it is definately not easy for a teenager to stick to the gluten-free diet. It will be a great day when they can positively diagnose people without waiting for the damage to be done!