<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> *One person wrote me that she found it was not celiac after all*: When my daughter was dxd with CD, I was absolutely sure I had it too. After all, my grandmother had it and I had been suffering from IBS all my life. So I got tested - and the serology was negative. I didn't believe it. I was so convinced I had it that I had an endoscopy done and my biopsies were still negative. It turned out that my "celiac" symptoms were from soy and when I eliminated soy (in all forms) from my diet my symptoms went away. (This is not to say that there aren't people out there who have CD and aren't diagnosed properly. Just sharing my own experience.) ----- *Thanks also to those who had info/opinions to share too*: This girl needs a new doctor and a second opinion.....and an endoscopy... in my opinion..... ----- In situations as your student, I recommend that they have Dr. Fine's testing. The should get the stool test and the gene test. Some people won't do it because their "insurance doesn't cover it" but hey, that is what money is for. By avoiding the testing for that reason hurts only the person that is sick and going to an MD that is not helping... ----- I believe you are on the right track. Maybe what you are seeing (and the doctors aren't recognizing)..is GSS. Gluten sensitivity syndrome prevents proper digestion therefore causing disorders such as bipolar/schizophrenia.... IBS is a blanket diagnosis to cover any inconclusive abdominal/digestive disorder... ----- I think I read somewhere a few years ago that the tests are only 75% correct if negative. And of course the "gold standard" biopsy can be wrong if read wrong or from the wrong place. If you watch carefully you will see me throwing my hands up. ----- ...you might find these interesting... False Negative Serological Results Increase with Less Severe Villous Atrophy Dig Dis Sci. 2004 Apr;49(4):546-50 Celiac.com 08/27/2004 - Dr. Peter Green and colleagues at the Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, conducted a study designed to determine the sensitivity of the various serological tests used to diagnose celiac disease. To do this they looked at 115 adults with biopsy-proven celiac disease who fulfilled strict criteria which included serological testing at the time of their diagnosis, and a positive response to a gluten-free diet. Out of those studied, 71% had total villous atrophy, and 29% had partial villous atrophy. Serological results indicated that only 77% of those with total and 33% of those with partial villous atrophy actually tested positive for celiac disease, and it did not matter whether the patients presented with classical or silent symptoms. All patients who were positive for anti-tissue transglutaminase had total villous atrophy. The researchers conclude: "Seronegative celiac disease occurs. Endomysial antibody positivity correlates with more severe villous atrophy and not mode of presentation of celiac disease. Serologic tests, in clinical practice, lack the sensitivity reported in the literature." from www.celiac.com Copyright © 1995-2004Scott Adams *Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*