Biocard™ Celiac Home Test
Approximately 97% of individuals with celiac disease remain undiagnosed. The decreased quality of life associated with the symptoms, potential disabilities, and sense of loss due to people loosing their loved ones (from miscarriages, cancer, complications, etc) is an unnecessary burden. I have talked to many people with the symptoms who have requested a celiac test from their doctor and unfortunately have been discouraged from receiving the celiac screen. This feedback is very disheartening and is often due to the doctor’s belief that celiac screening should only be done if patients have all the classic symptoms of celiac disease. Many doctors do not realize yet that their patients can present with atypical symptoms or silent celiac disease (with very little or no symptoms).
For most of our lives, my mother and I only had one major symptom which was anemia (the rest of our symptoms were vague). My daughter only had stomach aches. Once I became more ill, then I had a variety of symptoms. I believe that everyone who requests a celiac screen should receive it and this belief has led to this post. The celiac home test provides a nice option for those people who believe they may have celiac disease due to their own symptoms or due to the presence of celiac disease in a relative.
Transglutaminase is an enzyme that has an affinity for undigested gluten and deamidates (alters) it into a form that is toxic for those with the genetic predisposition for celiac disease. The immune system reacts, antibodies are created, and these antibodies tag transglutaminase for destruction. This test measures the presence of IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies in your blood. For this test, you will need to obtain a fingertip blood sample with the small sterile lancet that is supplied in the package. The results are apparent within 10 minutes with a clear yes or no. Click here to view the video instructions supplied by 2G Pharma.
10% Celiac Home Test Discount
2G Pharma is offering a 10% discount for Canadian orders as long as you use my promo code (REF-SS) when you place your order. As well, 2G Pharma is generously paying me 10% with each order which will help sponsor this blog. Click here if you are interested in ordering this test. For US inquiries, please call 1-866-838-1911.
What If The Test Result is Positive?
If your result is positive, continue eating your regular gluten containing diet, print out 2G Pharma’s Dear Doctor Letter for your doctor to help explain the test results, and see your doctor (I suggest taking the test with you as well). The doctor can do further testing and make appropriate referrals for bloodwork, other diagnostic tests, and to other professionals. As well, talk to your relatives about screening (since their risk has increased with your diagnosis) and request that your physician take steps to screen your children.
What If The Results Are Negative?
There are a number of reasons why this test may give a negative result. If an individual has an IgA deficiency, then a false negative test result could occur. In this situation, an IgG anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody test could be used (as long as you don’t have an IgG deficiency). Secondly, this home test (IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase) result tends to parallel the amount of intestinal damage present. If you have a gluten intolerance with very little or no bowel involvement, then the result could be negative. Some people with gluten intolerance have very atypical symptoms with no bowel involvement. Thirdly, some individuals have latent celiac disease and the test may show a negative result a few times before there is enough bowel damage (and antibodies) to show a positive result. Fourthly, with very young children, this test might be negative since they may not have high enough antibody levels to show up on the test yet. Fifthly, for an accurate result, the person using the home test should be eating gluten regularly. The antibodies necessary for testing may not be present if gluten is not being consumed. Overall, I believe this home test can help rule you in (as having celiac disease), but it can’t entirely rule you out.
A complete panel of bloodwork is needed to help rule out Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance. The celiac panel includes:
1. IgA and IgG anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody test
2. Endomysial antibody test
3. Total serum IgA test
4. Total serum IgG test
5. Antibodies against deamidated gluten
6. IgA and IgG antigliadin antibodies
7. Skin biopsy for skin rashes
8. Small intestinal biopsies
9. Genetic testing
If the above tests are negative, then ask your doctor about a referral to receive testing for food allergies and intolerances or you can go to a naturopathic doctor for this. Other tests will likely be ordered to investigate your symptoms. As well, for a variety of reasons, false negatives can occur with the panel of celiac tests. Discuss (with your doctor) the possibility of trying a gluten free diet to see if it provides some relief. If you choose to try a gluten-free diet, then ask your doctor for a referral to a registered dietician for advise and guidance. I hope this information helps and I wish you the best!
References
1. Dr. Stephen Wangen. Healthier Without Wheat. Innate Health Publishing, 2009.
2. Cleo J. Libonati, RN. Recognizing Celiac Disease. Gluten Free Works Publishing, 2007.
3. Dr. Peter Green and Rory Jones. Celiac Disease A Hidden Epidemic. Collins, 2006.
4. M Hadjivassiliou, RA Grünwald, GAB Davies-Jones. Gluten Sensitivity As A Neurological Illness. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2002:72:560-563.
5. Marios Hadjivassiliou, Richard Grünwald. The Neurology Of Gluten Sensitivity: Science vs Conviction. Pract Neurol 2004,4:124-127.
6. Canadian Celiac Association. http://www.celiac.ca
7. Wm K. Warren Medical Research Center For Celiac Disease. http://celiaccenter.ucsd.edu/
8. Dr. Peter Green. The Celiac Disease Centre’s Channel. Videos
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/0/r8LwNCGcBKY
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/1/qxLF4BAU_Vo
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/1/qxLF4BAU_Vo
9. Dr, Suzanne Lewis. The Celiac Disease Centre’s Channel. Videos
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/3/_4yX7x0ddec
Part2: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/4/wkdcIrImCDM
Part3: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/5/DPNuu3d6GJo
10. Dr. Christina Tennyson. The Celiac Disease Centre’s Channel. Videos
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/9/bL9RJhZjuyg
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/10/cQmYYwMpeNc
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/user/CeliacDiseaseCenter#p/c/E4747F2C9D008E6D/11/bhkzesfqh_k
11. Carina Lagerqvist, Ingrid Dahlbom, Tony Hansson, Erik Jidell, Per Juto, Per Olcen, Hans Stenlund, Olle Hernell, Anneli Ivarsson. Antigliadin Immunoglobulin A Best In Finding Celiac Disease In Children Younger Than 18 Months. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2008 Oct;47 (5):428-435.
12. Prause, Christian; Ritter, Maria; Probst, Christian; Daehnrich, Cornelia; Schlumberger, Wolfgang; Komorowski, Lars; Lieske, Ruediger; Richter, Thomas; Hauer, Almuthe C; Stern, Martin; Uhlig, Holm H; Laass, Martin W; Zimmer, Klaus-Peter; Mothes, Thomas. Antibodies Against Deamidated Gliadin as New and Accurate Biomarkers of Childhood Coeliac Disease. Journal Of Pediatric Gastroenterology And Nutrition. July 2009-Volume 49-Issue 1-p 52-58.
13. GR Corazza And V Villanacci. Coeliac Disease. J Clin Pathol. 2005 June; 58(6): 573-574.
14. Jill Stein. Marsh Grading System Not A Good Gauge Of Coeliac Disease Severity: Presented At UEGW. www.docguide.com
Comments
3 Responses to “Biocard™ Celiac Home Test”
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Thanks for sharing your story! I have self diagnosed myself with Celiacs Disease. When I finally figured out what was wrong and cut gluten out of my diet I finally felt ‘normal’. Something I hadn’t felt for over 10 years.
Good luck to you and your family! Your story is inspiring and I hope your blog helps others
Ashley,
Thank you for your kind words. I’m so happy to hear that you feel much better living gluten-free. I have talked to many who have self diagnosed their gluten intolerance, due to their physician’s lack of awareness. If all physicians recognized the symptoms and tested for gluten intolerance and celiac disease early, then self diagnosis wouldn’t occur.
I do always recommend that everyone have all their symptoms assessed by a physician (so testing can be done) and talk to your physician about any changes you are making, such as starting a gluten-free diet, just incase there are any concerns. As well, then referrals can be made to see a registered dietician, check your nutrient levels, and test your bone density, etc. This follow-up can help prevent further complications. Also, every time a physician experiences a positive outcome in their patient, due to a change in diet, they learn that this connection is possible. For all of these reasons and more, please share and discuss everything with your doctor. I’m sure you have likely done all this. I just thought I should mention it, I do tend to worry about people.
I wish you and your family the best too,
Shelly
I wish I had known about this a year ago. I had broken some ribs (one which punctured my stomach) which lead to a whole heap of problems. I was never sick – I mean I had always had nose bleeds which I now know to be a symptom of food allergies- but that was about it. The doctor I was seeing did an endoscopy for a whole panel of stuff but right on the results (I had a copy faxed to my new doctor) I tested positive for celiac but he didn’t tell me simply because its a “rare condition”. Untreated I now have epilepsy and have a stroke take my vision. Been on a gluten-free diet (with a new doctor!) for 4 months now and feel great! Because I was proactive in getting answers my mom and sister got tested and are gluten-free as well but many are not that lucky!
Thank you for your blog. I hope that will all this attention the general public and doctors will start to realize how severe are common this is!
God bless you!
Michelle