Can someone tell me what this lab test means?

[IDreamInColor]

My GI doc ran this test and told me it was a test for celiac. Does this test also tell me if I have a gluten intolerance or not? I asked the doctor if gluten may be causing my problems even though the celiac test was negative and he said, "No, the test was fine." He said I could eat all the gluten I wanted. Well, luckily I found all of you and your wisdom, and now I know better.
What exactly is this test? What is "Tissue Transglutaminase AB, IGA? Does it have any role at all in diagnosing a gluten intolerance, or is this strictly a celiac test and nothing more?

[IDreamInColor]

If you click on the .jpg below my post it will resize the test so you can see it.

[wonderwoman]

all I can say is your test result was 5

and it says 19 units or less is normal

I'm sure someone else is more qualified than I am to go into it in more detail.

[tex]

IDream,

That test measures antibodies to an enzyme naturally produced by the body. If the antibody level reaches a certain range, it indicates an autoimmune reaction against the body's own tissue. It is generally associated with celiac reactions to gluten, but it does not measure antibodies to gluten per se. Antibodies to gluten would have to be measured by monitoring the level of anti-gliadin antibodies.

The problem with this test is that it has very poor sensitivity. TTG antibody levels are never zero, (for normal people), unless that individual is IgA deficient, so low numbers are meaningless. By the time the test shows a high enough number to be considered a positive result, the intestines have already accrued a lot of damage. In fact, Dr. Fine's research shows that similar antibodies can be detected in the stool, as much as several years sooner than the blood tests are capable of showing a positive result. The bottom line is that the blood tests are only suitable for detecting fully-developed celiac disease - they will not detect earlier stages of the disease. IOW, they will not detect gluten-sensitivity, unless fully-developed celiac disease is present.

Tex

[IDreamInColor]

Thank you :)

[tex]

You're most welcome,

Tex