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Is It Common To Have False Positive Test Results?

beebee07

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beebee07 Rookie
beebee07
Posted

I have just had my EMA and tTG come back positive a week ago. I am scheduled for an endoscopy at the end of this week. How likely is it that my two test results are false positives? I asked the hospital physician if that could be the case and he said no, there is a 90 something percent accurate result with those two tests. However, when my GP received the report from the hospital physician it said that it is possible to have a false positive because there are other diseases/conditions that mimic Celiacs. I am a bit confused. I have read that it is common to have false negatives and a negative biopsy result. Any thoughts much appreciated.

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psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted

False negatives are common on both blood tests and biopsies, but false positives are rare. When a positive is "false" it does not mean there is nothing wrong, it means that something other than celiac disease is the root cause of the problem. Two false positives are quite unlikely.

The EMA test is the most accurate blood test for celiac disease, and false positives on that test are very rare.

beebee07 Rookie
beebee07
Posted
  • Author

False negatives are common on both blood tests and biopsies, but false positives are rare. When a positive is "false" it does not mean there is nothing wrong, it means that something other than celiac disease is the root cause of the problem. Two false positives are quite unlikely.

The EMA test is the most accurate blood test for celiac disease, and false positives on that test are very rare.

Thanks for your response. From what I understand a false tTG positive could be due to other auto immune conditions or heart and liver issues. Given I had all my thyroid bloods done, liver (plus three scans of the liver: ct, mri and ultra sound) and pretty much every blood test under then sun, I would find it hard to believe the false positive for the tTG is correct. Of course I am no doctor so I guess I will have to wait and see ;)

Thanks again for your response. Much appreciated.

MitziG Enthusiast
MitziG
Posted

EMA is specific for celiac. You have celiac disease. Welcome to the board!

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

Welcome to the board Beebee.

MistyRG Apprentice
MistyRG
Posted

I posted a similar question a couple weeks ago . . . my version of grasping at straws!!! I was told by my doctor that with the EMA positive, he would be shocked if I don't have a positive biopsy. It is Celiac specific test (as others mentioned).

Welcome . . .

beebee07 Rookie
beebee07
Posted
  • Author

I posted a similar question a couple weeks ago . . . my version of grasping at straws!!! I was told by my doctor that with the EMA positive, he would be shocked if I don't have a positive biopsy. It is Celiac specific test (as others mentioned).

Welcome . . .

Thanks for the welcomes ;)

I think I very well may be grasping at straws too MistyRG. I don't know wether mine are strong or weak positives. I asked the doctor for the numbers and he fobbed me off. I have my endoscopy this Friday but have been gluten free for a week on the recommendation of the doctor who gave me my test results. I am very conflicted about this as I know that it is much better to be on gluten when you have the biopsy but the gastroenterologist said I would be fine as it will only have been 10 days gluten free. I am wondering if I am having some gluten withdrawl. Today I felt so depressed and anxious and cried all day which is not common for me.

Thanks for the feedback.

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squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

That's gluten withdrawal starting to show beebee.

beebee07 Rookie
beebee07
Posted
  • Author

That's gluten withdrawal starting to show beebee.

Can the withdrawl flare old symptoms? Thanks squirmingitch.

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

Can the withdrawl flare old symptoms? Thanks squirmingitch.

Well, yes, sort of. When you go through the w/d you get all kinds of weird stuff happening to you. When I went through it, it was like everything I had been experiencing before going gluten-free got more pronounced. But I didn't have much in the way of GI symptoms as I have dh & we often have little to no or much milder GI symptoms. But others say their GI symptoms go all over the place. And it does take a while for your body to settle down. It's been going through years of abuse. It doesn't heal overnight. Many people take a good 6 months for things to really settle down. I mean the GI stuff will be there & then not & then start up again. The body has to go through a whole re-setting process.

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