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Why does my lab test for gluten come back negative?

Lab tests for gluten sensitivity often come back falsely negative. Many people go gluten free despite the lab results and end up feeling better. The following video explains why this can happen… Traditional diagnostic testing has focused on blood antibody tests and or intestinal biopsies.

Unfortunately traditional tests for gluten sensitivity are often incorrect!

Why? They only measure a fraction of how a person’s immune system can react to gluten. Add to the problem that different grains contain different types of gluten. Blood tests only measure the gluten found in wheat (gliadin). The other problem is that people react to gluten in different ways. Some people have immune reactions, some have intestinal problems, some develop psychological problems, some suffer with migraine headaches, psoriasis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis… The list is over 200 diseases long. I can’t even begin to tell you how many patients have come to my office after they were already biopsied or blood tested and told that they did not have gluten intolerance only to find out that their gene DNA tests were positive.

Unfortunately, the traditional definition of gluten is not 100% correct!

Why? Most of the research regarding gluten is directly linked to celiac disease, and most of the research on celiac disease focuses only on 3 grains (wheat, barley, rye) and sometimes a fourth (oats). There are a number of studies that have linked the gluten in corn to adverse reactions! But wait, there is more… Almost half of the people diagnosed with celiac disease do not get better on a traditionally defined gluten free diet! So the big question is…Why?! The answer – The traditionally defined Gluten Free Diet is not really gluten free. There is usually a 30-50 year gap in medical research and its application in actual practice. Point being don’t expect your gastroenterologist or other specialist to start discussing gluten with you. Don’t take my word for it, watch the news report below. Fact is many doctors are on cue with the research curve, and many are not.

Who Should Be Genetically (DNA) Tested For Gluten Sensitivity?

Those directly related to someone who has already been diagnosed with gluten intolerance or celiac disease should always be tested, but those suffering with any of the following list of diseases should also get tested:
  • Those who suffer from chronic intestinal problems
  • Infertility or recurrent miscarriage
  • Chronic anemia
  • Osteoporosis
  • Migraine Headaches
  • Psoriasis
  • Eczema
  • IBS
  • Bipolar or Schizophrenia
  • Low thyroid (Hypothyroid)
  • ADD or ADHD
  • Autism
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Restless Legs Syndrome
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Type I or II diabetes
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Any Autoimmune Disease
Because of recent media exposure on The View, Larry King and Fox News, gluten sensitivity is becoming more and more of a house hold word. Watch the video below to see a recent report by Fox News featuring Dr. Osborne as an expert in gluten sensitivity. Pay particular attention to the symptoms and diseases that the woman had before finding out that she was gluten intolerant (hint – they were the opposite of celiac disease symptoms!)

Don’t know where your illness is coming from? It’s time for you to get tested…

Still Have Questions?

Read our FAQ below…
  1. DO I GET FAMILY DISCOUNT? IF SO HOW MUCH? – Yes. When you order two or more kits, you save 10% off of your total price.
  2. WHAT COMES IN THE TEST KIT – The kit comes with thorough instructions, two cheek swabs and envelope to mail out the completed swabs with US postage included. If you are overseas, additional postage may be required.
  3. DO I HAVE TO EAT GLUTEN BEFORE TAKING THIS TEST? – No. Because this is a DNA test, the results are not affected by the ingestion of gluten.
  4. DO THE CHEEK SWABS EXPIRE? No After swabbing the cheeks with swabs, the DNA is good for months as long as the swabs are put back into the paper sleeves and sealed with tape.
  5. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET THE RESULTS BACK? 3-4 weeks once the kit is completed and mailed.
  6. IS THIS LAB ACCREDITED? Yes, Gluten Free Society uses a genetics lab that is accredited – Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), #06D0888615 – College of American Pathology (CAP), #63066-01
  7. HOW MANY GENES ARE TESTED? 2 genes are tested. Both the HLA-DQ alpha 1 and beta 1 genes are measured.
  8. CAN I FILE THIS TEST TO MY INSURANCE? No. This test is not covered by insurance.
  9. HOW IS THIS TEST DIFFERENT FROM OTHER DNA TESTS? – This test measures for all genes linked to both gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. Other labs only measure for genes linked to celiac disease.
  10. MY BLOOD TESTS WERE NEGATIVE. HOW IS THIS TEST DIFFERENT? Genetic testing does not yield false negatives the way common blood tests do. Remember that blood tests typically only measure 2 out of 7 known immune responses to gluten (most of them only measure the gluten in wheat – gliadin). Gene testing gives a definitive answer as to whether or not one should avoid gluten.
  11. HOW DOES GENE TESTING COMPARE TO CYREX LAB TESTING? Cyrex labs is more comprehensive than traditional blood tests, but the same problems occur with this type of testing. The lab measures antibody responses to different gluten proteins as well as proteins that the body my confuse for gluten. Unfortunately, there are thousands of different types of gluten based proteins and Cyrex only measures a handful. Genetic testing identifies the bodies propensity to react to gluten, based on your DNA. This is a much more accurate tool to determine whether one should avoid gluten or not.

3 Responses

  1. Dr. Osborne should be commended for telling it straight to the Celiac or non-Celiac gluten sensitive coommunity. The current GF diet is pure bunk in my opinion. The word “gluten” does not even appear in the evidence based research of Dr. Sidney Hass and his subseqent prognosis and diet for treating Celiac. Symptoms of Celiac disease will persists (even silently) as long as polysaccharides (complex carbohydrate) ie, ALL grains and starches,sugars are ingested. Even when symptoms are silent many endoscopes show villi that are still flattened. Why not ditch all grains/starches/dairy/sugar for a year or more and see if this does not help you. I am currently eating a diet as described. Like anything it takes some time to adjust and discipline too, but good health is worth it.

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