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What Are Normal Iga And Igg Levels?

heliosue

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heliosue Apprentice
heliosue
Posted

Still trying to pin down whether I have Celiac Disease or Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerence. Based on a suggestion from a forum member, I just had my IGA total serum test and won't know the results for awhile.  But.. I have a question about normal levels based on the descriptions that I have read in a few online articles. The articles offer several possible outcomes if the total IGA is low, and the rest of the antibody tests are "normal".  Where can I go to find out what is "normal" on these other tests.  Is it "no antibodies detected"? Is it any result that falls below the upper range?  I have a feeling that the result of this latest test is going to continue to place me in the inconclusive category, as the ONLY positive on the previous tests was the TTG Antibody, IGG, which was at 10 (high according to the report). (Does anyone know what the high range is for that TTG, IGG test?  Is it 10 out of 100? or 10 out of 1000?) The previous tests were taken when I was eating a partially gluten free diet. (I hadn't been told that a Celiac/Gluten panel was going to done as part of my broader annual bloodwork), so I'm not at all sure those negative results mean much.  I feel so much better now that I'm gluten-free, that I really don't know if I can make myself go back to eating gluten in order to verify the previous test results or even go the biopsy route.

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Brit1612 Apprentice
Brit1612
Posted

I think each lab can be different, but for example, my son's ttg igg was "slightly elevated" the first time he had it done and it was a 7, the second time it was a 15 (clear positive) and the last time is was .5 (negative).  The range for all of these labs was <6 was considered "normal", Between 6 and 8 was like a mild positive and >8 was positive.  So if your lab was the same your result would have been a clear positive for that test.  Just so you know, my son had that test positive with others negative and we just had a negative biopsy.  He also came back negative for the same test (while consuming gluten).  We are being told that it could have been some kind of infection causing the positive, and now that it is negative we are being told not to worry but to trust the results we are getting now (including the biopsy).  Just thought I would share.

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

Yes.  Lab normal ranges can vary quite a bit.  I've seen from 0-4 up to 0-20.  My lab range was the 0-20, and everything above a 20 was considered high.  If you have 19.8, you are not a celiac but 20.2 probably is.   :rolleyes:   My result was stated at greater than 200 so I have no idea what it actually was - could have been 201 or 1000.  ;)

 

The normal range usually starts at 0 though.  If your 10 was high, your upper normal limit was probably 4, 5, or 6.  Perhaps you can request a copy of the lab report and then you'll know for sure.

 

If you want to stay gluten-free yet want to verify your diagnosis, try retesting after 6 months.  If your result has come down, it probably was celiac disease.... A positive test result means it is probably celiac disease anyways.  Those tests are pretty specific to celiac disease. This report shows that the specificity of a positive for celiac disease for the tTG IgG (SP) is about 95%. Open Original Shared Link

 

Best wishes.

heliosue Apprentice
heliosue
Posted
  • Author

I think each lab can be different, but for example, my son's ttg igg was "slightly elevated" the first time he had it done and it was a 7, the second time it was a 15 (clear positive) and the last time is was .5 (negative).  The range for all of these labs was <6 was considered "normal", Between 6 and 8 was like a mild positive and >8 was positive.  So if your lab was the same your result would have been a clear positive for that test.  Just so you know, my son had that test positive with others negative and we just had a negative biopsy.  He also came back negative for the same test (while consuming gluten).  We are being told that it could have been some kind of infection causing the positive, and now that it is negative we are being told not to worry but to trust the results we are getting now (including the biopsy).  Just thought I would share.

Thanks for sharing your son's experience.  Talk about a roller coaster ride! It really is frustrating not being able to pin things down, even more so for you when it's your son you're worrying about.  Thanks again, I'll keep this information in mind.

heliosue Apprentice
heliosue
Posted
  • Author

Yes.  Lab normal ranges can vary quite a bit.  I've seen from 0-4 up to 0-20.  My lab range was the 0-20, and everything above a 20 was considered high.  If you have 19.8, you are not a celiac but 20.2 probably is.   :rolleyes:   My result was stated at greater than 200 so I have no idea what it actually was - could have been 201 or 1000.   ;)

 

The normal range usually starts at 0 though.  If your 10 was high, your upper normal limit was probably 4, 5, or 6.  Perhaps you can request a copy of the lab report and then you'll know for sure.

 

If you want to stay gluten-free yet want to verify your diagnosis, try retesting after 6 months.  If your result has come down, it probably was celiac disease.... A positive test result means it is probably celiac disease anyways.  Those tests are pretty specific to celiac disease. This report shows that the specificity of a positive for celiac disease for the tTG IgG (SP) is about 95%. Open Original Shared Link

 

Best wishes.

Thanks. I just read the page you linked to and copied it into my Celiac file.  My doctor (internist) doesn't seem to think that it's important that I know one way or the other, but I do think that I should let nieces and brother know if it is Celiac.  He said that  a 10 on the TTG, IgG was borderline, but he couldn't tell me what the benchmarks were in upper range.  Also, I had to remind him that my blood labs a year ago showed that I was low in iron, B-12, and folic acid and he had me taking supplments for each. Six months ago, my dentist asked what I was doing that caused me to be losing enamel on my teeth. I had no idea. So many of the possible symptoms can be symptoms for myriad other illnesses. Thanks for mentioning taking the Celiac panel again in 6 months. It hadn't occurred to me that if the antibody count decreased that that would be a good indication of celiac disease.  From my perspective that is so much more preferable to eating gluten again for any length of time.  Thanks again for your help.  It really does ease my mind to know that there are folks like those in this forum who can relate and answer questions for me.

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

I think most people around here can relate to your struggle.  Those who had a stomach ache for a month, were diagnosed with clear results, and trained on the gluten-free diet, aren't the ones who come here... Sadly, we are the majority of celiacs.  ;)

Brit1612 Apprentice
Brit1612
Posted

Thanks for sharing your son's experience.  Talk about a roller coaster ride! It really is frustrating not being able to pin things down, even more so for you when it's your son you're worrying about.  Thanks again, I'll keep this information in mind.

You're right it is really frustrating when it is happening to your child, especially a child that can't even talk.  I can't ask him how are you feeling, or explain to him the things he's been having to go through.  But I am still grateful for his health; I know there are parents out there dealing with life threatening illness in their children, so I try to keep it in perspective.  Hope you get answers quicker and easier than we have!

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