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

First I want to thank the MANY people who responded w/ personal stories and medical advice. It  was a little overwhelming but very informative.

The bulk of responses said that w/ the small amount of gluten he is getting the tests will probably come out negative (some people disagreed).  Along those lines, people said that the newest info shows that many kids don't start producing antibodies until 3-6 yrs which makes testing earlier inconclusive.  Again some people disagreed w/ stories of young  (under 2) kids testing positive.

All in all, there was a lot of conflicting advice and I think I'm going to start w/ cheek swab to determine if he has the genes first and then go from there.  I did include parts of some messages below regarding ways to test.  If anyone wants me to forward them more of the personal stories I'm happy to do so but didn't want this message to be too long.  The personal stories were very interesting for me to read.


__________________________________________________________
There is another, easier way to test your child. Dr Lendon
Smith, a prediatrician in his book, FEEDYOUR KIDS
RIGHT..suggests that you give the suspect food in isolation,
wait ten min and then check the anus.  If it is beet red
then the child is allertgic!!!  It happens so rapidly you
won't believe it.  This way you won't have to put him thru
any shots etc
____________________________________________________________

At the recent celiac consensus conference, they stated that kids may not start making these antibodies til 3 - 6 years old, anyhow.  You might want to consider the
gene test (cheek swab) by Kimball Genetics.  Altho technically not
"diagnostic", it would at least let you know if you are dealing with
one of the 2 identified associated genes and then you could decide from
there how to proceed with his diet.

____________________________________________________________________
This is from a message on www.glutenfreeforum.com:
1. IgA quantitative (to make sure there is no IgA deficiency - this
would
render the next test inaccurate
2. Tissue transglutaminase IgA (tTG-IgA) - these tests are best
performed by
Prometheus or Mayo laboratories, but the tTG test is done by a computer
so
it may be OK even at another lab.

If the IgA levels are low, indicating an IgA deficiency, then your doc
needs
to ask for the IgG tTG test as well.

If your son tests positive, many docs will insist on a biopsy of the
small
intestine to confirm the diagnosis. If positive, then your son should
be
checked for thyroid levels, anemia and iron levels, and vitamin b12.
anti-Gliadin antibodies should be done for a baseline level as these
will
need to be checked every 6-12 months for future follow-up/compliance
with
the GF diet.

University of Chicago Celiac Disease Program (773) 702-7593.
This program offers assistance to doctors as
well as to patients re: diagnosis and treatment of CD.

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the Celiac List*