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Anyone Tried The Otc Test Kit For Celiac Disease

linen53

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linen53 Rookie
linen53
Posted

I was reading in the Gluten Free Living Magazine about celiac disease tests and was surprised that Canada offers an over-the-counter celiac disease test. It tests for IgA antibodies in the tested blood (yes, you will have to prick your finger). The article also stated the FDA has not approved an over-the-counter celiac test in the United States.

So I went online and found the company, based in Canada that offers the test kit. You can find it at: Open Original Shared Link under Shop by Brands sub-tab (right side of the page on the blue bar).

The kit cost $61.74 in US dollars including shipping(about $75 with free shipping in Canadian dollars).

 

Anyone have any information about this?

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MycasMommy Enthusiast
MycasMommy
Posted

I was reading in the Gluten Free Living Magazine about celiac disease tests and was surprised that Canada offers an over-the-counter celiac disease test. It tests for IgA antibodies in the tested blood (yes, you will have to prick your finger). The article also stated the FDA has not approved an over-the-counter celiac test in the United States.

So I went online and found the company, based in Canada that offers the test kit. You can find it at: Open Original Shared Link under Shop by Brands sub-tab (right side of the page on the blue bar).

The kit cost $61.74 in US dollars including shipping(about $75 with free shipping in Canadian dollars).

 

Anyone have any information about this?

 

"If a patient uses the home self-testing kit for celiac disease and has a positive test result, the following steps are recommended:

  1. A serologic laboratory test, immunoglobulin A (IgA) tissue transglutaminase antibody or IgA endomysial antibody, is required. Total serum IgA should also be measured.
  2. If the serologic test result is positive, the patient should be referred for an endoscopic small intestinal biopsy to confirm the diagnosis as soon as possible.
  3. It is strongly recommended that the patient continue to consume a normal (gluten-containing) diet and not start a gluten-free or gluten-reduced diet before the biopsy is performed. A trial of a gluten-free diet before biopsy has the potential to promote intestinal mucosal healing, leading to difficulty in pathologic interpretation of the biopsy and additional delay in confirming the diagnosis.
  4. Once celiac disease is confirmed using a biopsy, the patient should see a registered dietitian with expertise on gluten-free diets. The patient should be encouraged to join a support group like the Canadian Celiac Association (Open Original Shared Link)."

 

 

From the US National Library of Medicine : Open Original Shared Link

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

I did the home Biocard test a few years ago.  I suspected celiac disease but hated going to doctors so I was just sticking my head in the sand and ignoring the situation.  A friend discovered the Biocard tests were on sale at a local (Alberta, Canada) health / whole food store so she pushed me to buy one.  

 

I increased my gluten intake for about two weeks and then did the skin prick.  I was not able to get a big drop of blood so I did not fill the tiny test vial with blood.  Nevertheless, I did get a very faint positive line after about 10 minutes, but I had no second line at the recommended wait time.  I remember putting the tester down with a "huh", and then reading for a few more minutes.  I rechecked it and then when quickly to a lamp to make sure I was actually seeing a double line.  LOL

 

The testers look a lot like a pregnancy home test.  There is a box where two lines can appear.  The first is for total serum IgA.  It is a control test to ensure you have enough IgA for an accurate test.  The second line indicates high levels of tTG igA (tissue transglutaminase) which means your body is attacking its intestines.  That second line was a very weak positive.  Interesting enough, when I tested the tTG IgA through my doctor's office to confirm (after a month of increased gluten intake) my tTG IgA was very high at >200 when 0-20 was the normal range - not weakly positive at all.

 

I did meet another woman in my city who tried the home test.  Her result was also weakly positive but when she went to the doctor her retest was negative so they decided it must not be celiac disease.  About a month later she discovered that she had lyme disease which was probably causing her symptoms.  A weak positive tTG IgA can be caused by (5% of the time) liver disease, diabetes, thyroiditis, crohn's, colitis, or a serious infection; I've always wondered if her weak positive was caused by Lyme.

 

Anyway, I found it to be a helpful option and fairly accurate.  Just remember that the tTG IgA can miss as many as 25% of all celiacs so it is best to have multiple tests run (DGP IgA, DGP IgG, EMA IgA, tTG IgG) to make sure a negative result is accurate.

 

Best wishes.

linen53 Rookie
linen53
Posted
  • Author

nvsmom, I'm wondering why you increased your gluten for a couple of weeks before taking the test.  The test is for genes not antibodies.  I'm confused.

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

The test I took was not for genes - we might be talking about different tests. You link didn't work for me so I just assumed it was for the Biocard test which I know is available in Canada (since I used it).  The Biocard test I did was for anti-tissue transglutaminse (tTG IgA) which is positive when the body attacks the small intestine.  It also showed if levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) was norma; this is the part of the immune system active in the mucosal linings like in the mouth and intestines.

 

I increased my gluten intake because I did not each much bread prior to that, but in hindsight, I was actually eating enough gluten without the increase.  I also increased it because the test instructions said to do so.  

 

You are correct, there is no need to increase your gluten intake for genetic testing.

 

I'm sorry.  I guess I should have clarified which test it was before I answered!  LOL  This is the test I did: Open Original Shared Link

 

I've never had genetic testing done, but since I've had positive blood tests I would never bother with them.  To be honest, I'm not a fan of genetic tests.  Less than 1% of the world has celiac disease but 30% of all people have the genes that celiacs have (DQ 2 or DQ8).  A positive result will just tell you if you are in the higher risk group or not, it can't tell you if you have celiac disease.  It even appears that a very small minority of celiacs may not even have those genes, but that is not a widely accepted belief in the medical community.

linen53 Rookie
linen53
Posted
  • Author

According to what you said your test was a cheek swab.  The test I am talking about is a blood test.  Thank you so much for answering me.  I have more information now.

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

According to what you said your test was a cheek swab.  The test I am talking about is a blood test.  Thank you so much for answering me.  I have more information now.

 

No, mine was a blood test. I pricked my hand and the blood went into a tiny tiny vial - almost like a diabetics blood glucose test.

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linen53 Rookie
linen53
Posted
  • Author

Okay, thanks for the clarification.

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