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Originally Posted by neveryoumindthere 
If you could only afford one test on the EnteroLabs site which would be the best to indicate if you have celiac or not?
It's late and what I'm reading is just not registering
Sorry also wanted to ask if anyone knows of a Canadian company that is reputable who will do this testing as well
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As far as I know, Enterolab is the only place doing this type of testing. You could ask them about Canada, though (I've been seeing this question a lot lately).
As for the one test, what is your reason for doing the test? IMO, the best (and cheapest) test is going GF. As far as Enterolab's tests, in order to be relatively sure that celiac is the problem (and not "just" gluten sensitivity) there are three tests that are needed together, and possibly a fourth. SORRY! The gluten sensitivity test, the tissue transglutaminase test, and the gene test. And possibly the malabsorption test (although, in my mind, it's not as important for "diagnosis"). The gluten sensitivity test will tell you if you're reacting to gluten, the tissue transglutaminase test will tell you if your reaction is autoimmune in nature, the gene test will tell you if you have a gene for celiac, or if you have a gene for gluten sensitivity, and the malabsorption test will tell you if there is enough damage to your intestines that you aren't absorbing nutrients well (actually, it's specific to fats, but if you have trouble with fats, you probably have trouble with other nutrients, too). So, it really depends on what you're hoping to get from the testing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bella Babe
I have also been looking at Enterolabs for testingfor my kids.
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Money is an issue for us and I wouldn't even bother with testing except that a paper with a "diagnoses" will mean my ex might actually try to follow this diet for my kids. Right now if ds tells him during visitation that he can't eat wheat he says "don't give me that crap."
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I wan't to just do the gluten sensitivity test, for the sole fact that it's all I can really afford. Is this worth it? Will this test alone be sensitive enough?
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Boy, this is tricky. I'm so sorry your ex is being so difficult. That's just awful!
Here's the thing. The enterolab tests aren't used for official diagnosis. They won't say "you have celiac". The results they send will give the results of the test, [i.e. "Fecal Antigliadin IgA 51 (Normal Range <10 Units)"], and then further down they will give an interpretation, [i.e. "Interpretation of Fecal Antigliadin IgA: Intestinal antigliadin IgA antibody was elevated, indicating that you have active dietary gluten sensitivity. For optimal health, resolution of symptoms (if you have them), and prevention of small intestinal damage and malnutrition, osteoporosis, and damage to other tissues (like nerves, brain, joints, muscles, thyroid, pancreas, other glands, skin, liver, spleen, among others), it is recommended that you follow a stric! t and pe rmanent gluten free diet. As gluten sensitivity is a genetic syndrome, you may want to have your relatives screened as well."]
If this is enough for your ex, then do just that one test. If it's not, then maybe adding the tissue transglutaminase or the gene test done. Here's what they say about a positive tissue transglutaminase test in the results: "Interpretation of Fecal Antitissue Transglutaminase IgA: You have an autoimmune reaction to the human enzyme tissue transglutaminase, secondary to dietary gluten sensitivity." An autoimmune response to gluten is in large part what defines celiac. But they don't say that, so you're ex would have to take your word for it.
And this is what they say about the gene testing (this was for me, who had the genes but did not show positive for gluten sensitivity -- we didn't have ds gene tested since he has type 1 diabetes, which is carried on the same gene as celiac, so we know he has the gene): "Interpretation Of HLA-DQ Testing: HLA gene analysis reveals that you have one of the main genes that predisposes to gluten sensitivity and celiac sprue, HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8. Each of your offspring has a 50% chance of receiving this gene from you, and at least one of your parents passed it to you. You also have a non-celiac gene predisposing to gluten sensitivit! y (DQ1 o r DQ3 not subtype 8). Having one celiac gene and one gluten sensitive gene, means that each of your parents, and all of your children (if you have them) will possess at least one copy of a gluten sensitive gene. Having two copies also means there is an even stronger predisposition to gluten sensitivity than having one gene and the resultant immunologic gluten sensitivity or celiac disease may be more severe."
I don't think that quote is as helpful for you to see what they say, since I didn't test positive for GS, and since I have both genes. It's the only thing I've got, though. Sorry.
What will help to convince you ex partly depends on how educated he is, and how educated his friends/family are. And how motivated he is to learn more about the testing for celiac. For instance, my BIL is a physician, so he doesn't buy it.
He searched the journals and could find no articles in support of the stool testing. But he doesn't know enough (any) GI docs, so he doesn't hear about how more and more GI docs are using the Enterolab tests.
My mom (a nurse, who totally trusts the medical community) asked my sister's dr. to test for celiac, and wouldn't even double check which test they did (it was only one, so obviosly he didn't order the whole panel, so it's worthless, not to mention not very sensitive anyway).
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I don't want to discourage you, but do want you to know the reality of it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gilamama
what is the difference between celiac and gluten intolerance?
another question: when they test for imunoglobulins, what does that tell you?
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Celiac is an autoimmune response to gluten, meaning the body attacks itself in the presence of gluten. Gluten sensitivity is just that, a sensitivity to gluten. There can still be damage, like with any sensitivity, but usually not so severe, and not the same type of damage (but who cares really, damage is damage).
When they test for immunoglobulins, it tells you whether your body has an immune response to a particular product.
