DX Info

Tim · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 65

My son is getting tested at University of Chicago's free CD screening tomorrow. I was dx with no symptons after a routine EDG and then a blood test.

He was told that if the blood work was positive that he would need a biopsy to confirm it. Since this is a road I haven't been down before, I have a question. Are there a lot of false positives in the trans glutinase (sp) blood test?

Thanks.

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8783 Location: WI, USA

Hi Tim,

False positives are not as likely with tTG. It's pretty specific and pretty accurate if the damage is significant enough. tTG works great when detecting larger amounts of damage, but not so great when damage is not as severe. There's much higher chance of a false negative for the above reasons - just be aware of that...

That's part of the problem with those free screenings. They do [I think] just the tTG - looking specifically for CD. That doesn't always give you a true picture of whats going on. Dr. G at UC CD program is a CD Traditionalist - he only recognizes CD proper - not any other gluten related illness.

I think it's really great that they do that testing, but, I suspect many people will fall thru the cracks.

Good luck tomorrow!! Let us know how it goes!
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

Tim · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 65

Thanks for the info, Al.

Since my son, like me, is asymptomatic to any food "allergy" the blood test should be good enough.

As a poor grad student living in Chicago this is a good opportunity for him to get tested.