Gluten Test Results (ELISA Test)

[tex]

Hi All,

My test kits from EZ-Gluten showed up, so I just finished testing the Chex Honey Nut cereal, and the La Banderita White Corn Tortillas. I got off to a bad start, by trying to dry out some pieces of tortilla in a foam cup in a microwave, to make them easier to crumble up for the test sample. Unfortunately, I had to step out for a few seconds, and didn't have sense enough to turn it off, (instead of leaving it on automatic reheat ), so you can probably guess what I found when I got back. I'm hoping that the toxic stench will eventually fade away, with the doors and windows open, and a norther blowing.

Anyway, I decided to just test them wet, (which I should have done in the first place, but this is a case where a little education can be a bad thing, because I am aware that most such tests are designed for dry matter basis, so they're more accurate if moist products are dried first - moisture content dilutes the sample, resulting in a low sample weight). The good news is that the Chex definitely tested negative for gluten, at 10 ppm, and the tortillas showed an extremely weak positive result. IOW, the tortillas may have 10 ppm of gluten, but the response was so weak, that they certainly don't have 20 ppm.

So the bad news is that I still don't know what glutened me that day. Unless I happen to be one of those unlucky souls who happens to react at 10 ppm If I'm that sensitive, that would certainly explain why I had such a high test result at EnteroLab, a couple of months ago, because there's a good chance that a lot of foods probably contain a 10 ppm level of gluten, (even some foods that we would never suspect).

At least I proved that the Chex are safe, (at least the box I tested is safe), because they come in handy, when I need a quick breakfast, or a snack.

Tex

[Gabby]

Hi Tex
Oh I was excited to see a report on results using the ES-Gluten test kits. I can think of many different tests to try, if only the tests weren't so expensive.

Would you say it is easy to prepare the sample? And how long did it take you from start to result?

You must be very sensitive if you were glutened today and those two items were the only possible culprits.

I thought I read on that website that liquids could be tested too. If you ever do test a liquid, please do report again on your findings.

Hope you feel better soon.

Gabby

[starfire]

I hope you aren't that sensitive either, Tex.

Love,
Shirley

[tex]

It took me about 25 to 30 minutes for a complete test, including setup time, and crumbling up the sample. Once the sample is fragmented enough to be measured reasonably accurately, it takes 2 minutes to mix it with the liquid used as an extractant, (probably pure alcohol - that's what is used in the other ELISA tests that I've used in the past, anyway). That solution is allowed to settle for 5 minutes, after which some of the clear liquid is extracted, (with a pipette), and 10 drops are placed in a test tube. The kit includes a pre-treated test strip that is then placed in the test tube, so that one end soaks up the liquid, and after 10 minutes of absorbing the test solution, the test strip can be read by comparing reaction lines on it to a reference chart. To get the most accurate results, though, another 5 minutes of drying time should be allowed for the test strip. A strongly positive result will be immediately obvious, but for a weak positive result, the drying time is necessary, to make the test strip change visible for the test sample. IOW, the test strip appeared to show a negative result when I first removed it from the test tube, but after it dried for at least 5 minutes, I could see a faint positive response for the sample.

I can't think of any liquid that I might have on hand that might contain gluten. The test can indeed be used for liquids, though.

Those were the only two items in my diet that had changed, so that's why I thought they might be suspect.

Tex