<<Disclaimer:  Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

In reply to Beth Jones and in comment to Steve Greenspan's reply to Beth...

My son has casein intolerance rather than a lactose intolerance.  I am not a
chemist, but as I understand it casein is a protein, and is similiar to gluten
in structure...lactose is a sugar (?)

I have also heard that the Celiac Panel (which I had done in Santa Monica at
Specialty Labs) of antigliadin, antireticulin, and antiemdoysial IgG  / iGa
antibodies has a problem of false negatives.  There is a far lower incidence of
false positives with this test, so if your child gets a positive reading, then
its likely he/she has celiac.

The really tough decision is whether to have a biopsy.  My son had it under
general to be sure that he did not move during the procedure.  It was much
tougher on us than on him (and it was expensive).  Doctors generally recommend
it, because it is the only way to be sure.  If you put your child on a GF diet
to test the concept, a later biopsy will not be conclusive.

There are several scientists and physicians who are joining the list, but are
still in the process of being added.  In the future, I hope we can get their
direct comments on issues such as these.

Bill Elkus