Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Elisa Test - Where Was Yours Done?

newlyfree

By newlyfree
in Food Intolerance & Leaky Gut

Recommended Posts

newlyfree Rookie
newlyfree
Posted

My ND wants to test me through Meridian Valley, but I have to say I wasn't impressed with their website, so I'm a little worried. Not to say an uninformative website means they're a bad lab, but it doesn't really give one confidence.

I know some labs have very low accuracy rates, and was just wondering where people in general got their tests done and were you happy with your results?

Thanks all!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


newlyfree Rookie
newlyfree
Posted
  • Author

bump -anyone? :)

confusedks Enthusiast
confusedks
Posted

I would like to hear answers to this too.

Kassandra

burdee Enthusiast
burdee
Posted

The ELISA test can be processed by many different labs. My ND uses USBioTek in Seattle (where I live). US BioTek, the lab used by the IBS Treatment Center (my doc's clinic) to test for food allergies, received a national Excellence Award for Quality Laboratory Services. The award was granted by COLA, a national health care accreditation organization. The award signifi es US BioTek has displayed a commitment to quality in performing patient testing, service to professional health care providers and overall laboratory practices. Also the USBioTek ND spoke to my local Celiac support group about their services, work and quality control standards. I suggest you tell your doc about USBioTek (Open Original Shared Link).

I took 3 different versions of the ELISA test to determine several of my allergies. I had already determined gluten intolerance and dairy and soy allergies through Enterolab IgA antibody stool tests, but I still had irregularity, cramping, bloating and tachycardia symptoms. So I took the 100 food allergy ELISA (blood) test last year. That showed (with really significant scores) that I have egg white, egg yolk and cane sugar allergy. Abstaining from those food eliminated the bloating (egg) and tachycardia (cane sugar), but I still had cramping pains occasionally. So I took a vegetarian form of the ELISA test which looked for a few more (15) allergies to grains, vegies, nuts and seeds. That came up negative. So we tried testing for bacterial dysbiosis (too little good bacteria). Taking probiotics helped eliminate regularity problems, but I STILL had those cramping pains almost daily. So this month I took the ELISA herb/spice test. That showed a very high reaction to vanilla and a high moderate reaction to nutmeg. Abstaining from vanilla and nutmeg eliminated the cramping pains almost immediately.

Although I needed several tests to determine all my food allergies, I would recommend ELISA tests for foods you currently eat (since those are blood tests). If you previously suspected a food allergy and already abstained from that food for a few months, I'd suggest the Enterolab tests for dairy, egg, yeast or soy. Unfortunately Enterolab only tests those 4 foods plus gluten intolerance currently. BOTTOM LINE: I'm VERY pleased with ELISA tests. However I suggest your doc send your blood draw for ELISA to a good lab (like USBioTek).

Also I hope your doc knows how to interpret those test results. Some people have lots of little 'blips' (results in the 'no reaction' or 'low) range. However you should only consider the highest results. If most of your results are very high, you ignore the lower scores. If your results cluster around the mid moderate to mid high scores, you conclude those are your allergies. If your results cluster in the high 'lows' and low 'moderates', you trust those. However each patient has their own pattern of test results. The clusters should be obvious. Many people assume that every score means an allergy and get overwhelmed with trying to eliminate all those foods from their diet or just give up. More than 7 allergies in any one test is rare. However USBioTek will send an interpretation of your test results.

BURDEE

covsooze Enthusiast
covsooze
Posted
Also I hope your doc knows how to interpret those test results. Some people have lots of little 'blips' (results in the 'no reaction' or 'low) range. However you should only consider the highest results. If most of your results are very high, you ignore the lower scores. If your results cluster around the mid moderate to mid high scores, you conclude those are your allergies. If your results cluster in the high 'lows' and low 'moderates', you trust those. However each patient has their own pattern of test results. The clusters should be obvious. Many people assume that every score means an allergy and get overwhelmed with trying to eliminate all those foods from their diet or just give up. More than 7 allergies in any one test is rare. However USBioTek will send an interpretation of your test results.

BURDEE

Thanks for your post Burdee. It's really helpful to hear about your experiences, especially on the interpretation of results.

I tested with York- I live in the UK and its the biggest lab here as far as I'm aware. I ended up being 'intolerant' to almost everything on the 113 panel, including a couple of foods I never at. However, having read what Burdee has said about interpretation, things make more sense. I in fact decided a couple of days ago to exclude the worst offenders from the list, together with dairy, which scored low but I eat little of anyway as I already knew it upset me.

Susie xe

newlyfree Rookie
newlyfree
Posted
  • Author

Thanks Burdee - looks like US BioTek really nailed it for you!! I'm going to ask my ND if she'd mind testing through them instead - I also like the amount of info they have online about their quality control process. :)

Nathan's mom Apprentice
Nathan's mom
Posted

Yes, thanks for your post, Burdee. I want to take my son to a ND before too long. We have been going through the MD route. I have had great doctors for him, but everytime I mention the bacteria/yeast thing, the subject gets changed or they flat tell me not enough is known about it to test. Their protocol doesn't allow them to venture there - even though I have read medical reports online about tests showing a link between bacteria and malabsorption.

What would you recommend in selecting a Naturopath?

Thanks,

Debbie

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


burdee Enthusiast
burdee
Posted
Yes, thanks for your post, Burdee. I want to take my son to a ND before too long. We have been going through the MD route. I have had great doctors for him, but everytime I mention the bacteria/yeast thing, the subject gets changed or they flat tell me not enough is known about it to test. Their protocol doesn't allow them to venture there - even though I have read medical reports online about tests showing a link between bacteria and malabsorption.

What would you recommend in selecting a Naturopath?

Thanks,

Debbie

I'll just tell you my experience and what I like about my naturopath:

After getting the 'IBS' misdiagnosis from my HMO's PCs for over 10 years, I didn't want to see ANY doctors. So I used Enterolab to diagnosed gluten intolerance, the celiac gene, milk and soy allergies. However I later met my current naturopath at a local support group meeting. He seemed knowledgable, but I never considered seeing him as a patient until I read his book "The Irritable Bowel Syndrome Solution". That book almost exactly described my history of misdiagnoses and mis-treatments. After reading that book, I told my husband "this guy thinks like I do about mainstream medical approaches to intestinal problems". Then I learned my doc diagnosed his own celiac disease during his medical school training. So he decided to go into naturopathy rather than mainstream medicine and focus on gluten intolerance and celiac disease.

Here's what I really like about my naturopath:

(1) His book and website explained how he thinks--so I didn't have to guess his approach.

(2) He experienced celiac disease symptoms and misdiagnoses--so he understood my experiences.

(3) He doesn't guess what might be wrong after hearing my symptoms--he uses lab tests to diagnose celiac disease, food allergies, bacterial dysbiosis (too many bad bacteria, not enough good bacteria), yeast infections and parasites. (I already described my good experience with ELISA tests and USBioTek in another thread on this website.) The stool tests for bacteria, yeast and parasites, not only determine which a patient has, but also tells which drugs or herbal supplements can effectively treat that strain of bacteria, yeast or parasite. He uses reliable labs with good quality control methods.

(4) He readily admits "I don't know", when he doesn't know, rather than pretending he does.

(5) He's open minded--he gives me credit for researching my symptoms and doesn't automatically disagree with other doctor's approaches or recommendations. After one appointment he said he learned more from me than he taught me.

(6) He leads a monthly gluten intolerance support group meeting at his clinic and supports local celiac events--he's 'one of us'.

BURDEE

  • 3 weeks later...
Rhondavous Newbie
Rhondavous
Posted

Hello Burdee,

I'd love to know who your naturopath is, since I live in Seattle. I really don't know what foods I'm not tolerant of (I know wheat just by experience), but I keep having recurring problems, every year or two, and am not insured. My health is not good at this point. It would be ideal if I could order the Elisa Test without having to go through a Doctor, but it didn't look like that was an option on BioTek's website.

Thanks in advance. Rhonda

burdee Enthusiast
burdee
Posted
Hello Burdee,

I'd love to know who your naturopath is, since I live in Seattle. I really don't know what foods I'm not tolerant of (I know wheat just by experience), but I keep having recurring problems, every year or two, and am not insured. My health is not good at this point. It would be ideal if I could order the Elisa Test without having to go through a Doctor, but it didn't look like that was an option on BioTek's website.

Thanks in advance. Rhonda

Hi Rhonda:

My naturopath is Dr. Stephen Wangen, ND, who founded the IBS Treatment Center in Seattle (next to Swedish Medical Center). To learn more about his clinic and his approach see: Open Original Shared Link He also has a website devoted to allergies. See Center for Food Allergies (Open Original Shared Link). His 'Innate Health Foundation' (which oversees both treatment centers)is having an open house at the IBSTC this coming Friday night (September 28) from 7:30pm until 9pm. However, if you want to become a patient and have the ELISA tests ordered and interpretted, call his office (206-264-1111) and talk to his receptionist Kirsten who has experienced lots of tests, treatments and diagnoses there. You can also pm me your phone number and a good time to call. I will gladly share more of my experiences with the IBSTC.

BURDEE

Rhondavous Newbie
Rhondavous
Posted

Hi Burdee, thanks so much for the recommendation. It saves me much time in research and dead ends. I'm looking forward to getting the food intolerances nailed down so I can get better and stay better.

Thanks also for being willing to speak with me, I surely appreciate your support and will keep your contact info at hand if questions come up.

Rhonda

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      126,091
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    equivokate
    Newest Member
    equivokate
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.9k
    • Total Posts
      69.2k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Celiac Maybe a Possibility?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, and thank you for sharing your story! It sounds like you’ve been through an incredible journey with your health, and it’s no wonder you’re starting to piece things together and wonder about celiac disease. Your experiences—from childhood through adulthood—paint a picture of symptoms that are often associated with celiac disease, though they can overlap with other conditions as well. The recurring sinus infections, being underweight as a child, chronic gastrointestinal issues, nutrient-related symptoms like cramps, and the persistent fatigue and brain fog are all things that many people with undiagnosed celiac report. Your reactions to gluten also stand out. The improvement in symptoms when you reduce or remove gluten, followed by the resurgence of pain and other problems when you reintroduce it, is a common experience for those with celiac or gluten intolerance. While your frustrations and trials with elimination diets might not have given you concrete answers yet, they’ve provided valuable clues. It’s also worth noting that celiac disease doesn’t always present in the classic way. Many people, like yourself, may not experience severe gastrointestinal distress but instead have “atypical” or extraintestinal symptoms like joint pain, menstrual irregularities, fatigue, and more. It’s a condition that can go undiagnosed for years, especially when symptoms are subtle, sporadic, or mistakenly attributed to other issues. The fact that you’ve sought alternative approaches to feel better shows just how determined you’ve been to find relief, even without a definitive diagnosis. Given your history and how your body responds to gluten, it would be worth exploring celiac disease further with a medical professional. Before removing gluten completely, it’s important to get tested while you’re still eating it, as going gluten-free beforehand can affect the accuracy of the results. A blood test for celiac antibodies (like tTG-IgA) is usually the first step, and if positive, an endoscopy may follow to confirm the diagnosis. If the testing process feels daunting, keep in mind that getting answers could give you clarity and help guide your health decisions going forward. Whatever the outcome, you’ve already made significant strides in identifying triggers and managing your symptoms. Your awareness and persistence are key, and this community is here to support you as you continue to seek answers. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of blood test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
    • More2Learn
      Celiac Maybe a Possibility?

      By More2Learn · Posted

      Hi, I am new!  (Although I've used this forum as a reference over the past couple of years.) I'm just looking for some initial reactions to if I actually might possibly have Celiac Disease, or if I'm reaching here.  I have had lifelong health issues and not once has a doctor suggested I look into celiac. I always thought it was basically an extreme allergy that needed an EpiPen, and I know that's not me.  However, I stumbled upon some symptoms, realized I was wrong, and after some research I'm almost shocked at what I have found.  It seems like anything I've ever struggled with has a potential correlation to this disease!  I'm in my 40's, now.  Here is my journey to date... Issues as a Kid: tons of allergies, and had sinus infections all the time... however I didn't have hayfever-like allergies and the scratch tests didn't register much, it was more that when I was exposed to allergens (like say I spent hours with a cat) I was certain to get a sinus infection and it lasted months. was extremely skinny and everyone always said I was anorexic (I wasn't) always getting sick and the illnesses hang on for a long time always cold (my favorite thing to do is sit in front of a space heater or be out in 90 degree weather) intermittent bad constipation (still happens but not as severe) horrible toe cramps that would wake me up in the middle of the night As I got older (teenage/college years): acid reflux diagnosis learned that beer made me EXTREMELY sick, cannot tolerate it horrible issues with menstrual cycle - I wasn't regular, had awful cramps and PMS, sometimes cannot function the first couple of days night terrors/sleep walking more stomach issues - I learned I couldn't have black coffee.  I often had issues especially when traveling.  For example I finally noticed a pattern that I could never, ever eat at a hotel buffet spread - it would always make me sick afterwards. More recent problems: always tired periodic pain on right side that can be so painful I can't stand up straight. Have had all kinds of scans and doctors always say I'm fine.  I was so sure I had gallstones or my liver was failing but... nope. chest pain brain fog not diagnosed but many, many ADHD symptoms lots of inflammation, am overweight now toe cramps evolved into leg/calf cramps None of my symptoms from any era of my life ever really resolved, except I went from being skinny to ~20/30 pounds overweight, and as I got older I got less outright sinus infections.  Largely due to the pain in my right side and the fact that I always, always seem to pick up every illness, especially when traveling, I started pursuing alternative medicine paths... I did the Pritikin lifestyle, I tried an elimination diet, I followed the Root Cause Protocol, I did a Leptin reset.  A lot of these paths recommend removing gluten, and in the past year or so some of my symptoms have gone away!  Specifically less issues with toe cramps, sometimes the side pain would go away for a long time, and my acid reflux got much better.  But, because I was never diagnosed with any specific intolerance, I wasn't militant about the gluten - I had cut out dairy, soy, all kinds of things.  So I would say cross-contamination is ok, or make an exception at a group outing. Then one day, I just got frustrated and ate some normal slices of pizza... and my side pain came back!  I started doing research and now I'm here and wondering... could I have actually had this my whole life??!? Thoughts and observations welcome.           
    • Wheatwacked
      Ground meat absolutely full of gluten?

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      "grass-fed" meat by definition cannot contain wheat as it means the animal is only fed grass  organic meat can be fed wheat feed
    • Scott Adams
      Weird Symptoms

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your symptoms would not be typical celiac disease symptoms, but still could be related due to possible nutrient deficiencies.  The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs.      
    • Scott Adams
      Everyday life

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a difficult situation, and one that your employer may not take seriously. It's possible that they don't have a way to accommodate your issues, but I don't know much about your work environment. Obviously moving you to another work area would be ideal, but would or could they do that? If not, you might be stuck having to wear a K95-type mask at work to avoid breathing any particles, but they still could end up on your skin. Another alternative is searching for a new job.
×
×
  • Create New...