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

Dear Listmates,

I got a very good response to my questions about EnteroLab and Dr. Kenneth
Fine (the doctor in Texas who has developed new diagnostic tests for celiac
and microscopic colitis.)

He has developed a stool test to check for many things, including (1) gluten
sensitivity, (2) tissue transglutaminase, (3) intestinal malabsorption and
(4) yeast sensitivity.  There is also a test for (5) the  gluten sensitivity
gene, which is done from cells swabbed from the inside of your cheek, and
which tests for the "propensity of developing gluten sensitivity."  There are
other tests as well, including egg and cow's milk protein sensitivity and one
for the microscopic colitis gene.

He has two websites: www.finerhealth.com and www.enterolab.com that further
describe Dr. Fine and his lab.  He eats gluten-free and has a young daughter
with Celiac.  You can contact him over the Internet and order the test kits.
Currently the test for the first 5 things mentioned above (called the "Gluten
Sensitivity Stool and Gene Panel Complete") costs $349 plus almost $20 in
shipping costs.  The gene test alone costs $149 plus shipping.  You can have
this done on your own, without a doctor's prescription.  I don't know if
insurance will cover it.  Dr. Fine provides interpretation of test results,
or you can schedule a telephone conference with him to discuss further
details or receive nutritional counseling ($179/hour or $99/half hour.)

Almost all responses I received about the doctor and his lab were positive.

"Very reputable and professional.  He's a staff doc at Baylora |a well-known
gastro guy.  My gastro herea |actually recommended using his lab saying that
stool testing is more accurate than any of the currently available blood
tests, even the TTGa |Dr. Fine is very accessible."

"We used Dr. Fine's test in October for our 4 year old daughtera |The
results are easy to read and Dr. Fine is very nice about answering
questions."

"From what I understand Dr. Fine is most knowledgeable about CD but is sort
of on the fringe of accepted medicine.  Not that that is negative at all;
that could be good!  He is using testing that I believe he developed and that
no one else uses."

"Used the stool test for my daughter.  It came back positive.  Was very
pleased with the work and lab."

"Dr. Fine is a very fine and reputable and much respected doctor.  He is our
support group advisor.  He is a qualified doctor who is in research to help
people with this disease.  He diagnosed my daughter before he left Baylor to
go strictly into research with his own laba |.He can explain things so you
understand them."

"He is a fine, caring doctora |He usually answers e-mails within a day or two,
which is truly amazing.  I certainly can highly recommend him and his staff."

"I did the EnteroLab gene testing.  I was negative for the blood work, and
negative for the endoscopy and intestinal biopsies (over 5 months gluten-free
before the blood work & biopsies.)  Gene testing came back positive for
HLA-DQ2, which I am told, is the principal Celiac gene.  Even the gene
testing is not 100% positive.  It took about 2 months from the time that I
requested the test until I received the lab response."

"My only reservation about him is that he believes that up to a third of all
people are gluten intolerant.  His stool test might show a high sensitivity
to gluten, where a blood test would not.  However, the test gave me the
motivation I needed to go gluten-free and six months later, I feel like a
completely new person, physically and even mentally.  I wouldn't bother with
the gene test.  Only about one percent of people that carry the gene have
Celiac Disease."

"I have used them twice for myself and my mothera |He is a well published
gastroenterologist, spoke at the Baltimore meeting about new tests he has
developed.  Understands why there are so many different allergies associated
with CD."

"My genetic makeup was not the Celiac type, yet I have Celiac.  Also... (two
doctors in Italy) reported a series of 10 patients with celiac but unusual
genetic makeup.  So although having genes which are atypical for Celiac makes
it less likely, there are plenty of exceptions!"

"There is a virus that has the same protein sequence as does gliadin, the
toxic element in gluten.  If a person gets that, he can become sensitized to
gluten & will react the same as a celiac would, but without the genetic
predisposition.  I know the protein sequences of the toxic grains along w/
that of the adeno virus are shown in the CSA/USA Handbook."

"I tested positive for gluten intolerance with stool test by EnteroLab; my
biopsy and blood tests done at U. of Maryland came back negative.  Have been
GF 4 weeks now and bloating is gone, and many other symptoms abated.  I ...
looked into the reputation of Dr. Fine's work among the 'establishment.'  The
consensus was that his work is intriguing, but the establishment does not
accept it as gospel yet, until more corroborative research is done.  All I
know is his work seems like common sense to me.  The true test might be your
own test on yourself."


Gang, I hope you find these comments useful.  I have ordered the test, and
will be sending it back to the lab in about a week.  Wish us luck, and thanks
to everyone who responded.  It's much appreciated.

Holly in SC