Doc Wants Blood Test After Accidentally Glutened

[Boys mom]

HI-

My sons GI doctor wants them to have lab work after getting an accidental gluten exposure to see if there is a "blip" in their blood levels (they have been wheat/gluten free among other foods for 4-6 months now aside from any accidental exposures.) We just confirmed they carry the celiac genes (one son 1 and the other both). Their diets are restricted of wheat and a million other foods that are also hard for them to digest--still--so I know their guts aren't "healed" all the way yet. (of course not 100% sure wheat/gluten is our issue, either.)

Has anyone seen diagnosis from an accidental gluten exposure? We are in the camp that we really want an official diagnosis for a whole host of reasons, but aren't wanting to go the route of exposing our 1 & 3 year olds to wheat for weeks on end if we don't have to. I've never heard of a 1-day exposure really getting anyone far so curious what my doc could be thinking/looking for.

Thanks!

[kareng]

Have your doctor look at what the experts say:

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If I accidentally ingest gluten will it show up in a blood test?

No, accidental exposure will not show up in a blood test. Repeated exposure elevates antibodies in the blood and causes damage in the small intestine.

[guest134]

I agree with Karen, think about how it is important to be eating gluten a few times daily for at least a month or two to avoid false negatives on blood tests, eating gluten accidentally once will certainly not cause any elevation.