Which Enterolab Tests Should I Order?

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Thu Aug 07, 2014 7:20 am

Hello everyone. I am recently diagnosed with LC after 2 years of off and on symptoms. Just before I was diagnosed I took the Genova IgG food antibody assessment blood test. It showed multiple sensitivities at a very low level and a few at a 1+ and 2+ level. Shrimp, corn and oats were at a 3+. I now want to do the Enterolab testing which I first read about here but I'm unsure which is the best panel for me. I know at the very least I need to test for gluten which btw showed no reaction on the blood test. I probably will also want to include testing for sensitivity to milk egg and soy. Milk and soy I showed very low reactivity and egg was not reactive on the blood test. Beyond that I'm uncertain. I don't want to spend more money than I have to but I'm willing to spend as much as is necessary to give me the info I need in order get better as fast as I can. I'm especially confused about doing the fecal testing for other food sensitivities since I've already done blood antibody tests. The only categories on the blood tests that showed no reactivity were fruits and poultry/meats. Would fecal testing give more accurate results for something that showed reactivity in blood? Perhaps show me it's not causing a problem in my gut? So I'd like to tap into your knowledge and experience to help me decide which combo of tests would be best.

Gigi

Post by **tex** » Thu Aug 07, 2014 8:15 am

Hi Gigi,

Since the antibodies from food sensitivities originate in the gut, and typically don't show up in the blood until after the intestines have been extensively damaged (and even then, they only show up at barely-detectable levels, the stool tests offered by EnteroLab are several orders of magnitude more sensitive and reliable than any blood tests available from any lab.

Most members order panels A1 + C1, in order to get the most bang for their buck, but if you just want to check for the 4 most common food sensitivities, the A1 panel will do that. The A1 panel tests for gluten (gliadin), milk (casein), egg (ovalbumin), and soy (soy protein). The C1 Panel tests for 11 other antigenic foods, including corn, oats, rice, beef, chicken, pork, tuna, almond, walnut, cashew, and white potato.

The C1 panel has only been offered for the past year or 2, so many of us who ordered tests several years ago could not order that test, but it seems to be fairly popular now that it's available. If you would like to see how the test results turned out for some of us, you can review some test results here, and here.

Some members are able to achieve remission just by following the test recommendations from panel A1 (and never ordering panel C1), while others find that they are unable to reach complete remission unless they also follow the recommendations based on the test results of panel C1. Of course, if the 2 panels are ordered at the same time, there is a significant discount in the cost.

You will notice that many of us show gene test results also (for celiac genes and non-celiac genes that predispose to gluten sensitivity). That's a separate test based on a DNA sample collected by rubbing a cotton swab on the inside of the cheek. That's certainly not an essential test, but many of us find that result helpful not only for our own diet decisions, but for our kids as well, since each of them has a 50–50 chance of inheriting any or our genes.

I hope some of this information is helpful.

Tex

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Thu Aug 07, 2014 8:36 am

Thank you, Tex. that is helpful. I understand your point about the stool test being more sensitive than blood test. Would you consider it accurate then to assume anything I showed reactivity to in the blood test would also show up in the fecal test? I showed at least very low sensitivity to so many things I guess I am hoping that perhaps the fecal test might show that I may not be reacting to so many things in the gut. That would be my main reason for ordering the C1. Maybe wishful thinking but hoping, for instance, that maybe the fecal test would show me not reacting to rice whereas the blood test showed me it to be 1+. It will be hard to give up rice when I'm pretty sure I will need to give up corn, oats and of course, gluten.

Post by **tex** » Sat Aug 09, 2014 2:19 pm

Gigi,

My apologies, I somehow missed this post, initially.

Gigi wrote:I understand your point about the stool test being more sensitive than blood test. Would you consider it accurate then to assume anything I showed reactivity to in the blood test would also show up in the fecal test?

No, because the blood tests are notorious for yielding false positive results, as well as missing certain antigens completely with false negative results. Typically, we have much better outcomes treating MC if we give top priority to EnteroLab stool test results. IOW, their stool test results trump any and all blood test results, for most of us.

Tex

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Sat Aug 09, 2014 2:35 pm

Thank you. That totally clears up my question and confirms in my mind I should do the C1 panel.

C.U.B. girl · Post by **C.U.B. girl** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 9:32 am

Hi Gigi,

I too, did blood tests two years ago when first dx'd, and at that time, they did seem to help, as long as I stayed on a rotation diet for several months. However ---- after my latest flare a couple of months ago, I tried going back to that same diet, and it didn't help at all. So I took the C-1 test (already knew I couldn't have anything the A-1 tested for, so no need for that one). It showed I was highly reactive to chicken and oats, and moderately reactive to beef, corn, rice, tuna, walnut, cashew, and almond. Slight reaction to pork and white potato.

These results were quite different than those from the blood tests two years ago, which showed only a slight reaction to chicken, corn, and rice, and none at all to oats, beef, or nuts. Pork was one of the most highly reactive according to the blood tests, yet one of the least reactive according to the Enterolab test. Anyway --- I switched to eating according to the Enterolab results, and voila! Success! Now I know why all the chicken and beef bone broth (ordinarily a boon to the digestive tract) wasn't helping --- it was actually making matters worse, since those were my two most reactive meats!

It is certainly possible to give up rice, corn, oats, and gluten, though its not easy at first. Look into a Paleo diet, or if you need to give up eggs and nuts as well, the Autoimmune Paleo protocol. There are some great books and cookbooks out there that will have you feasting like royalty with very few ingredients!

Best of luck to you!

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 11:57 am

Cindy,

Thank you for your reply. It is most helpful and encouraging. I'm now thinking the $400 I spent on the blood test was not well spent. I had it done right before being diagnosed and before I'd heard of Enterolab. It showed me reacting "very low" to most dairy including casein and lactalbumin, very low or higher to several vegetables, most seafood (shrimp was a +3)' , some nuts and legumes (soy very low) and all grains with corn being a +3. All fruits, poultry and meat were zero however. Eggs were zero. It showed me non reactive to gluten which I'd be shocked based on what I've seen in this forum if that is confirmed by Enterolab.

Right now, in the interim before I do stool testing and get results, I'm going to do my best to be gluten and dairy free and do just about everything else in a rotation. But if I showed more than a +1 to a food on the blood test I'm going eliminate it for right now. I guess I'm wondering how confused I will be if the Enterolab results contradict the blood tests to a great degree. Guess I'll cross that bridge when and if I get to it.

Gigi

nerdhume · Post by **nerdhume** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 4:16 am

Cindy,
I am curious, after years on a restricted diet wouldn't the tests show less reaction/improvement with less antibodies?
Is there a reason to test again?

C.U.B. girl · Post by **C.U.B. girl** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 9:38 am

Theresa,
You would certainly think there would be fewer antibodies; I think the difference is in the testing method. I'm not convinced that blood tests for food intolerances are very accurate, and though they did seem to help the first time around, once everything was back to normal, over time I began adding back in the foods I had eliminated. Plus I sort of pushed my luck and had a little dairy here, a little soy there, even a deviled egg on occasion, and the consequent inflammation eventually caused another flare. I can't say for sure whether chicken and oats have always been a problem for me or whether that's a more recent occurrence, nor can I attest to pork ever causing me issues even though the blood test said it was highly reactive.

All I know for sure is that what worked last time, didn't work this time, so I opted to take the Enterolab test this time around since so many folks have had good success with it. And when I eliminated the chicken and oats, along with severely limiting or eliminating the other reactive foods, things immediately got better.

I've heard that it's possible to overcome intolerances once the gut heals; and conversely, to develop new sensitivities if there is constant inflammation. Maybe that's what happened in my case…. ? I doubt I will do the Enterolab test again in the future; since there are only 11 items on the C-1 test, next time (if there is one!) I'd just start by eliminating them all, and then adding them back in slowly to see if any cause a reaction.

nerdhume · Post by **nerdhume** » Tue Aug 12, 2014 12:54 pm

Thanks for clarifying Cindy. I have been adding things back also and every time I 'have a little dairy' I have a little problem. Your experience will help keep me from going down the same path. Now that I am in remission the effects are not as bad, but still present and I am concerned that will keep the inflammation going.
I had also stopped taking the Nortriptyline at bedtime and I plan to start taking it again. It's day by day...2 steps forward and 1 step back.