Testing

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Testing for Celiac disease has recently developed screening blood test. It is necessary to have these blood tests before you start a gluten free-diet. If you have dermatitis herpetiformis (an itchy, blistery skin problem) the diagnosis can also be confirmed with a biopsy obtained through an endoscopic procedure. .

One of our members sent an email to Kimball Genetics to get information on genetic testing for Celiac Disease.  Here is their response below.  Betty

Thank you for your inquiry. The list price for the Celiac Disease DNA Test is $395.  Patients who enclose payment with their sample receive a 10% discount (check or credit card) bringing the price to $355.50.  In addition, we offer a family discount.  After the first family member is tested at the $355.50 rate, each additional family member (immediate and extended) is entitled to the family discount rate of $316.00 for upfront payment.  These samples can be sent in at any time.  All individuals being tested will receive a statement from our laboratory.  This statement contains the CPT codes that insurance companies require to make a claim, and the statement can be submitted directly to the insurance company.   Most insurance companies cover this type of testing, but since insurance plans vary, we recommend individuals contact their insurance company to check their individual coverage.  In order to find out from the insurance company if this test is covered, the insurance company will need the CPT codes for the Celiac Disease DNA Test which are as follows:  83891, 89896 x72, 83901 x2, and 83912.

Alternatively, if you wish for Kimball Genetics to bill your insurance company directly, the price is $395 for each test and we require three items:  a copy of your insurance card (front and back), a credit card number to cover any balance not covered by insurance, and an ICD-9 (diagnostic) code that you must get from your physician.  There are no discounts for insurance billing by Kimball Genetics.

If you are interested and pursuing DNA testing for Celiac disease, I would be more than happy to mail you testing kits in the post. After receiving the kits, simply fill out the required information, collect your family's cheek cells via the cheek swabs (instructions in the kit), and return the information back to our laboratory in the pre-addressed and stamped envelope we include in the kit. The turn-around-time for the Celiac Disease DNA test is 1-2 business days. After we have completed the testing and reporting, the results will be faxed and mailed to your physician and a copy of the results will be mailed directly to the individual tested.  If you have any questions whatsoever, please do not hesitate to call or email me. I look forward to working with you.
Kindly,

Danielle Young, MS, Genetic Counselor
Kimball Genetics, Inc.

info@kimballgenetics.com
(303) 320-1807; (303) 388-9220 (fax)
http://www.kimballgenetics.com/tests-celiacdisease.html

Entero Lab
Specialized Laboratory Analysis for Optimum Intestinal and Overall Health

Kenneth D. Fine, M.D. : Medical Director
10851 Ferguson Rd., Suite B  Dallas, Texas  75228
email:  email@enterolab.com

They do accept some insurance companies. You pay for the test up front and summit for reimbursement by asking for a coded receipt when you place your order.

Prometheus Labs
A specialty pharmaceutic Prometheus Laboratories Inc.
5739 Pacific Center Blvd.
San Diego, California 92121-4203 USA
Telephone:
Toll-Free: 1-888-423-5227
Fax: 1-858-824-0896
Web site: http://www.prometheuslabs.com/index.asp

A company integrating therapeutics and clinical information services for the optimal management of gastrointestinal and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

When someone is looking for reputable labs for testing for celiac disease, Betty’s first choices are…..

Prometheus Labs Test for Celiac Disease

Bio-Rad Laboratories’ Test for Celiac Disease

Quest Diagnostics Test for Celiac Disease
 

CD Blood Tests                                            

The panel of blood tests (and send them to a reputable laboratory for analysis) should include the antigliadin IgG and antigliadin IgA antibodies, the antiendomysial antibody (EMA) or tissue transglutaminase (tTg) antibody, and a total serum IgA level. The total serum IgA level is often overlooked by doctors, but it needs to be run because there is a significant percentage of people with celiac disease who have selective IgA deficiency and don't make enough IgA to make the test valid.

In EMA-positive subjects, human tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies and CD-associated human leukocyte antigen DQ2/DQ8 haplotypes were determined.

Testing News

Two websites have late breaking news about test: updated 4/21/2006
http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/medicine_health/report-58210.html
http://www.tekes.fi/eng/news/uutis_tiedot.asp?id=5078

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Chronic Health Problems and Gluten Sensitivity

If you are suffering from any of the following disorders you may be sensitive to gluten; a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.

  • AsthmaMigraine Headaches
  • Fibromyalgia/CFSSjogren’s
  • CancerAutoimmune disease
  • OsteoporosisEpilepsy
  • SchizophreniaADD/ADHD
  • Intestinal disease Autism
  • Chronic painMultiple Sclerosis
  • Digestive disorders Arthritis
  • Infertility and problematic pregnanciesDiabetes
Recommended blood test to screen for gluten sensitivity:
(NOTE: IT IS RECOMMENDED TO DO THE PANEL OF TESTS)
  • IgA and IgG Anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA)
  • Anti tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG) (computer analysis, not reader dependent) and/or if your insurance will cover the cost and your provider desires
  • Antiendomysial antibodies (EMA) (more expensive, reader dependent)
  • Total IgA (to rule out false negatives due to IgA deficiency)
  • HLA typing

***These tests are based on IgA. Those with IgA deficiency will have false negatives. Your provider can request the tests be run by IgG.

*From http://www.celiachealth.org and current recommendations in the research literature.

“Celiac disease is one of the great mimics in gastroenterology in particular and medicine in general. Of 100 patients with celiac disease, just over 10% present with classical overt symptoms of malabsorptiom. About 10% are incorrectly diagnosed for some length of time. 40% present in an atypical manner, which leads to lengthy delay in diagnosis. About 33% of “patients” have clinically silent disease and 7% have latent celiac disease (no symptoms, no small bowl lesion, but will develop celiac disease later, or had disease at an early age.....)”
                 C. Robert Dahl, M.D.

Alternative testing:

You may want to learn more about gluten sensitivity. Books you may want to read:

  • Dangerous Grains by James Braly, M.D., and Hoggan, M.A.
  • Going Against the Grain by Melissa Diane Smith,

Websites with information and support groups for gluten sensitive individuals:

There are many other informative sites. Simply link to them from many of the sites listed above.

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