<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Thanks to all those who replied. I learned a few interesting things: a) "Only 1/3 of the specimens taken for CD are well oriented enough for them to estimate all the parameters needed for histological evaluation of CD, and close to 50% of the biopsies are unacceptable to diagnose cd because of poor collection techniques. These facts were presented by Dr. Karol Horvath from Univ. of Maryland at the International Conference on CD." b) It is recommended that at least a dozen samples are taken (many doctors try to take only 3); c) "There are only a handful of labs in the US that are competent to evaluate the tests for celiac..Tests done at other labs are likely to return from 20 to 50 percent false negative readings." Recommended labs are: IMMCO Diagnostics, 963 Kenmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14223 716-876-5672, 1-800-537-TEST (8378), [log in to unmask] 2) Immunopathology Laboratory, Dept. of Pathology, 5233 RCP, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, phone (319/356-2688/8470) 3) U. of Maryland at Baltimore (Baltimore, MD) 1-410-706-1997: Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition Laboratory, UMAB/Bressler Research Building, Room 10-047, 655 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, Attention: Karoly Horvath, MD, or Athba Hammed, Research Assistance. Phone (410) 706-1997 or Fax (410) 328-1072. 4) Somebody suggested that the PCP could write to the insurance company and explain the reasons to go out of network; "The other option is pre-tax dollars. Most employers have this, and you could have the $900 taken pretax out of your pay (add extra for prescriptions, other dr. visits etc...). You will end up paying about 35% less because you don't have to pay taxes on the money." Thanks. Alessandra