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

Thank you to all of you that replied to my question about my son and
possibility of testing.

I have found out that the "rectal challenge" is not yet a feasible test. It
is not ready to be used as a diagnostic test. Someday maybe.

What I have been advised to do; since I am not willing to let my son go
through eating gluten at this stage in his life; is to have my family be
blood tested for Celiac disease and HLA typed. If anyone else proves to be
Celiac than it can be assumed that Louie is also a Celiac. Especially if he
tests positive for the HLA markers. This is the route that we will be
taking. My son is now too healthy and happy to put him through the gluten
laden diet and have to wait for an unknown amount of time. It could take
years before he shows enough damage to get a reliable positive. And any
negatives could lead us into a false sense of security. So until there are
any other tests we will continue to treat Louie as a Celiac. If he tests
negative for the HLA markers; we will have to think about reintroducing
gluten to see if his symptoms could possibly have been from an allergy or
intolerance.

I did receive many requests to know about this test that doesn't require
eating gluten. I am sorry to say that the test is still being perfected and
is not ready. But I do believe that having the family tested and typed
offers a realistic way of suggesting CD more strongly than just by the
presence of symptoms and symptoms clearing up after eating gf.

We all need to have as many people as we can get educated about this
disease. If the awareness level about CD was higher there would be more
people diagnosed and no longer suffering. And there would be more resources
available to those of us that are dealing with CD. There are many people
that have never heard of Celiac Disease and that have NO IDEA what gluten
is. This needs to be changed.

Thank you for responding to my former post.

Good Luck to all!

Jennie