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

How Reliable Is A Blood Test?

DonnaD55

Recommended Posts

DonnaD55 Newbie
DonnaD55
Posted

My daughter who is 12 has been dealing with abdominal cramping and diarrhea for about a year and a half. At first we thought it was lactose intolerance as taking her off of dairy helped a lot but not completely. We've rather loosely done a gluten free diet recently and she was better. But sometimes she can eat wheat products with no problems at all. She had a blood test for celiac last week and the test came back positive. Can i trust that it's correct or do we need more testing to confirm the diagnosis?

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Hi and welcome. There are multiple tests for celiac disease, some of which are more specific than others. Which test was positive?

It is possible for someone with celiac to eat wheat without immediate symptoms. The autoimmune damage is still being done. She also may find that she gets more sensitive to wheat once you get the diet going correctly and her immune system settles down from the constant assault.

lemontree1 Rookie
lemontree1
Posted

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've never heard of a false positive for a Celiac blood test. False negatives abound, but not false positives.

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Open Original Shared Link

One negative aspect of the TTG antibody is that it can be falsely positive in a patient who has another autoimmune condition. TTG false positivity has been described in patients with both type I diabetes and autoimmune hepatitis. Theoretically, it can also be falsely positive in other autoimmune disease.

rosetapper23 Explorer
rosetapper23
Posted

I agree with Mushroom, but at celiac conferences the experts generally say that, while false negatives are common and should be questioned, false positives are rare and you can "take it to the bank" that you have celiac.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've never heard of a false positive for a Celiac blood test. False negatives abound, but not false positives.

The blood tests that really leave no question are anti-EMA and anti-DGP. The old anti-gliadin test is notoriously inaccurate, although if you get a positive result you probably do need to have a biopsy and try the diet.

TTG is a sign of autoimmunity but not specific for celiac as Raven mentioned. As well as type 1 diabetes and autoimmune hepatitis, TTG is common in inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn's.

DonnaD55 Newbie
DonnaD55
Posted
  • Author

Thank you so much for your thoughts. We go to the doctor on Tuesday to discuss the results of the test. I'll find out exactly what the test was. Meanwhile, we'll stay gluten free!

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


tristonsdad Newbie
tristonsdad
Posted

With my daughter we did an upper endescopomy (probably spelled wrong) and they also took biopsy at same time to verify. This was recommend by our specialist after the positive blood test.

Di2011 Enthusiast
Di2011
Posted

Thank you so much for your thoughts. We go to the doctor on Tuesday to discuss the results of the test. I'll find out exactly what the test was. Meanwhile, we'll stay gluten free!

Get a COPY of the results. You will need them in coming years and she will need them as an adult.

mushroom Proficient
mushroom
Posted

Thank you so much for your thoughts. We go to the doctor on Tuesday to discuss the results of the test. I'll find out exactly what the test was. Meanwhile, we'll stay gluten free!

If you are going to be referred to a GI you may want to continue eating a full gluten diet because he will probably want to do an endoscopy with biopsy to confirm the diagnosis, which requires a full gluten diet for acccurate results.

sahm-i-am Apprentice
sahm-i-am
Posted

My daughter had tons of symptoms and yet her bloodwork came back negative. She did have the two genes for Celiac (forgot which ones) and both her dad and I tested positive for celiac disease. So, even though her tests came back negative she wanted to try the diet to see if it helped with her GI issues. A few weeks later she was right as rain! :D So, sometimes test results can be wacky, but listening to how your body responds is always a good way to go!

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,774
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Beth Garrison
    Newest Member
    Beth Garrison
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free stuff

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      The following two lists are very helpful for anyone who is gluten sensitive and needs to avoid gluten when shopping. It's very important to learn to read labels and understand sources of hidden gluten, and to know some general information about product labelling--for example in the USA if wheat is a possible allergen it must be declared on a product's ingredient label like this: Allergens: Wheat.      
    • trents
      Gluten free stuff

      By trents · Posted

      Tammy, in the food industry, "gluten free" doesn't mean the same thing as "no gluten". As Scott explained, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) allows food companies to use the "gluten-free" label as long as the product does not contain more than 20 ppm (parts per million) of gluten. This number is based on studies the FDA did years ago to determine the reaction threshold for those with celiac disease. And the 20 ppm figure works for the majority of celiacs. There are those who are more sensitive, however, who still react to that amount. There is another, stricter standard known as "Certified Gluten Free" which was developed by a third party organization known as GFCO which requires not more than 10 ppm of gluten. So, when you see "GFCO" or "Certified Gluten Free" labels on food items you know they are manufactured with a stricter standard concerning gluten content. Having said all that, even though you may read the disclaimer on a food item that says the spices may contain wheat, barley or rye (the gluten grains), you should be able to trust that the amount of gluten the spices may contain is so small it allows the total product to meet the requirements of gluten free or certified gluten free labeling. I hope this helps.
    • Tammy Pedler
      Gluten free stuff

      By Tammy Pedler · Posted

      As soon as I see gluten free I read the labels. I always find stuff that I cannot have on the products them selfs. Like spices, when the labels says  everything listed and then after like say garlic salt then the next thing is spices. When it says that that can contain wheat and other things I can’t have.. 
    • Scott Adams
      Do some people with Celiacs develop hypoglycemia?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While hypoglycemia isn't a direct, classic symptom of celiac disease, it's something that some individuals with well-managed celiac disease report, and there may be a few plausible explanations for why the two could be connected. The most common theory involves continued damage to the gut lining or nutrient deficiencies (like chromium or magnesium) that can impair the body's ability to regulate blood sugar effectively, even after gluten is removed. Another possibility is delayed stomach emptying (gastroparesis) or issues with the hormones that manage blood sugar release, like glucagon. Since your doctors are puzzled, it may be worth discussing these specific mechanisms with a gastroenterologist or endocrinologist. You are certainly not alone in experiencing this puzzling complication, and it highlights how celiac disease can have long-term metabolic effects beyond the digestive tract.
    • trents
      Ibuprofen

      By trents · Posted

      Paracetamol, aka, acetaminophen (Tylenol) just does not do anything for me as far as pain relief. It does help with fevers, though.
×
×
  • 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.