Enterolab's Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase Antibody Test

[TJSpin]

I just ordered the Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodytest through Enterolabs (did the GS testing so they already had the sample). I am now interested in the Cyrex Labs Array panel 3. Should I wait for the Enterolabs report to come back or do people poo-poo that test, too? I cann't keep "wasting money" if that is what I am doing by ordering these Enterolab tests. I am so fearful that the regular blood test won't be accurate. I am not that worried about testing for celiac but I do want to know about gluten sensitivity! I will (and am) responding the same way.

[Skylark]

There is no validated diagnostic test for gluten sensitivity. We told you that in the other thread; making a new thread will not change the facts. If gluten sensitivity is all you're looking for, you are just wasting money at Cyrex. (They will be happy to tell you otherwise and take your $$ but if you trust them I have a bridge for sale in New York City...)

[burdee]

I just ordered the Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase Antibodytest through Enterolabs (did the GS testing so they already had the sample). I am now interested in the Cyrex Labs Array panel 3. Should I wait for the Enterolabs report to come back or do people poo-poo that test, too? I cann't keep "wasting money" if that is what I am doing by ordering these Enterolab tests. I am so fearful that the regular blood test won't be accurate. I am not that worried about testing for celiac but I do want to know about gluten sensitivity! I will (and am) responding the same way.

I've noticed that "people poo-poo" any test that they have not personally used. Maybe there's a sense that "I suffered through eating gluten so I could take a blood test and/or endoscopy, which makes otherkinds of tests worthless." Obviously, that's just a guess, but I've heard all kinds of naysaying about Enterolab tests since I took those in 2004. I chose Elab because I didn't have to eat gluten to take stool tests. IgA antibodies stay in the intestines a lot longer than they stay in the blood. So you can abstain from gluten for several months and still have gluten antibodies in the stool, which Elab tests detect.

As for TtG antibodies from Elab tests, my mainstream doc and my naturopath accepted those results as proof of celiac disease, when considered with my Elab gluten antibody and dna results, aa well as my long history of celiac symptoms.However, reather than ordering individual Elab tests, I ordered the whole package (gliaden and casein antibodies, TtG, malabsorption, and DNA). I procrastinated for a long time about spending that much money for the package, but I've never regretted getting those test results. I only wish I had known that I needed to stop taking digestive enzymes a few days before the malabsorption test to get an accurate result.

[Skylark]

Until Enterolab does what everyone else has to do to validate a diagnostic test, demonstrating good specificity and a low false positive rate, well-trained scientists like myself will keep calling them out.

I keep fighting so hard because I think fecal AGA testing for gluten intolerance is a complete scam. It takes advantage of stressed-out people looking for a lab sheet with a positive result. People spend a bunch of money to get a test that pretty much always comes back positive, even when they are not eating gluten!!! I feel like maybe I can save somebody some wasted $$ and confusion.

Even if you get the full Enterolab panel you don't have a specific celiac test. Fecal fat and TTG come up in other inflammatory bowel diseases and fecal AGA is too prone to false positives (>30%) to act as a useful marker for celiac. It's suggestive but a GI still needs to rule out other diseases unless you get well gluten-free. I think blood deamidated gliadin is a better test because of the 99% specificity and >90% sensitivity.

And Burdee, please understand that I'm not trying to minimize your experiences. We've all gotten shafted by the medical establishment. It's just that you have to be so careful about the alternative stuff. Much of it is malarkey, designed only to separate rubes from their hard-earned money, with just enough science to sound convincing. Enterolab is less shady than many but I just don't quite see them as honest. If they were completely honest, the sensitivity and specificity of the testing would be stated on their website or at least published somewhere. They wouldn't label every gene but DQ4 "gluten sensitive" and they would state alternative diagnoses for tests like TTG.

I really prefer to encourage people to listen to their bodies. I was never even tested but I have no question I have celiac. I even had a blistered rash on my hand that was probably DH.

[TJSpin]

There is no validated diagnostic test for gluten sensitivity. We told you that in the other thread; making a new thread will not change the facts. If gluten sensitivity is all you're looking for, you are just wasting money at Cyrex. (They will be happy to tell you otherwise and take your $$ but if you trust them I have a bridge for sale in New York City...)

WOW. New to this forum and really stressed about this situation. Thanks for the support! I wasn't asking about anything I had previously asked about. I was asking if I should wait for the Transglutaminace BEFORE I get the blood test at my docs. I guess I will find another forum to post my questions so I don't offend anyone.

[Skylark]

Try not to label the information we offer as "poo-poo", perhaps?

[TJSpin]

There is no validated diagnostic test for gluten sensitivity. We told you that in the other thread; making a new thread will not change the facts. If gluten sensitivity is all you're looking for, you are just wasting money at Cyrex. (They will be happy to tell you otherwise and take your $$ but if you trust them I have a bridge for sale in New York City...)

Oh, and I am aware that there is no test for GS. What I meant is that I probably will not go as far as a biopsy for my 6 year old since those can be false, as well. If I can get "closer" to a positive, then I will be done testing!

[TJSpin]

Try not to label the information we offer as "poo-poo", perhaps?

All I meant is that people dismiss the information. I meant nothing else by the comment and I certainly didn't mean it as a disregard to your opinions! I'm not that kind of person to be that way on a forum post. I was mad when writing because I had just spent money on something that I am now thinking was the wrong choice (that I didn't know at the time of order).

[Skylark]

All I meant is that people dismiss the information. I meant nothing else by the comment and I certainly didn't mean it as a disregard to your opinions! I'm not that kind of person to be that way on a forum post. I was mad when writing because I had just spent money on something that I am now thinking was the wrong choice (that I didn't know at the time of order).

Then I misunderstood. I'm sorry I wrote that. I really was kind of offended but I understand what you meant now. Please don't write off the forum because I was confused. We really value new members and we try hard to help.

You may get some useful info from the Enterolab TTG. I hope so, but above all, please trust your body with the gluten sensitivity.

I looked up the Cyrex panel 3 and it has the serum TTG and deamidated gliadin. You can order from Cyrex if you want but those are standard tests that insurance will cover. The rest of the Cyrex panel would be difficult to interpret as far as celiac disease.