Enterolab accuracy
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angieryall
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2020 4:01 pm
- Location: Conway Arkansas
Enterolab accuracy
I have read that stool testing is not reliable but so see a lot of people here have done it and believe in the accuracy. Has anyone had a negative experience with test results not being accurate? Is it reliable? Worth the money?
Angie Ryall
It's true that stool testing by most labs is pretty much worthless. This forum has been in operation for almost 15 years now, and we've found EnteroLab results to be very accurate, reliable and repeatable. Most of us consider the cost of their test kits to be the best money we ever spent on our health care. I've administrated this board the entire 15 years, and I don't recall ever seeing any complaints about EnteroLab's test results. I've seen plenty of complaints about test results from other labs.
You can recover without their tests if you're diligent enough. You can keep a food/reaction journal, and track down all your food sensitivities by trial and error. Or you can order their stool tests and eliminate all that time, trouble, and guesswork.
Tex
You can recover without their tests if you're diligent enough. You can keep a food/reaction journal, and track down all your food sensitivities by trial and error. Or you can order their stool tests and eliminate all that time, trouble, and guesswork.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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angieryall
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2020 4:01 pm
- Location: Conway Arkansas
If your current diet seems to be working (IOW, you're improving), you might not need the tests. On the other hand, if something doesn't seem to be right yet, it's very reassuring to have the test results so that you know that your diet is safe. Also, it's easier to stick with a very restrictive diet when we're basing our food selections on actual test results rather than guesses. And we usually recover much faster when we have the test results to go by.
Yes, we've found that the blood tests are sometimes useful for pollen allergies and skin allergies, but they're not very helpful for food sensitivities.
Tex
Yes, we've found that the blood tests are sometimes useful for pollen allergies and skin allergies, but they're not very helpful for food sensitivities.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: Enterolab accuracy
I've done three different tests, they all seem to come back sensitive with most foods I'm currently eating. I've read that this is normal and that it does not mean I'm sensitive to that food, but rather, it is a food I've been eating. Confusing.
Re: Enterolab accuracy
Where are you reading all that misguiding information? If it's here on this board, you're misinterpreting what you're reading, because we've found EnteroLab results to be very accurate. If they show that you're sensitive to a food, you're almost surely sensitive to it. The mathematical probability of a false positive result is less than 3 %.
Yes, it's true that EnteroLab results show sensitivities to many foods for many members here, but those results are typically very accurate, whether the individuals are still eating those foods, or not. The sensitivities don't just instantly disappear because they're no longer eating those foods.
You didn't mention which specific tests or panels of tests you had, but if you're referring to your results from the C1 panel, then those results are more complicated to interpret, because whether any of those foods will cause a reaction tends to depend on your overall score for those 11 antigenic foods. If the overall score is below 10, then you can probably disregard the results for all 11 foods. But if your overall score is 10 or above, then the degree to which those foods will cause problems, generally depends on their respective ranks in the results, and your overall score. But I can't offer specific suggestions without specific test results.
For the A1 panel of tests, any score of 10 or above is a positive result, meaning that you're sensitive to that food.
I hope that this is helpful.
Tex
Yes, it's true that EnteroLab results show sensitivities to many foods for many members here, but those results are typically very accurate, whether the individuals are still eating those foods, or not. The sensitivities don't just instantly disappear because they're no longer eating those foods.
You didn't mention which specific tests or panels of tests you had, but if you're referring to your results from the C1 panel, then those results are more complicated to interpret, because whether any of those foods will cause a reaction tends to depend on your overall score for those 11 antigenic foods. If the overall score is below 10, then you can probably disregard the results for all 11 foods. But if your overall score is 10 or above, then the degree to which those foods will cause problems, generally depends on their respective ranks in the results, and your overall score. But I can't offer specific suggestions without specific test results.
For the A1 panel of tests, any score of 10 or above is a positive result, meaning that you're sensitive to that food.
I hope that this is helpful.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: Enterolab accuracy
Thanks for your response!
I've been on budesonide for most of this year, properly diagnosed with lc June 2019, after being misdiagnosed and chronically I'll since 2013. I'm trying to recover from a divorce from a 24yr marriage, the budesonide has just kept things at bay while I processed the emotions, now I need to eat clean again and heal.
I'm going to do the aip protocol (mickey trescott and angie alt), four week elimination and meal plan to reset. I used to do keto for years. I'm just trying to determine if I should do the food sensitivity test or not. I believe I read that it will not be accurate anyhow because I am taking 3mg budesonide every other day, so i may need to wait for a period after stopping the budesonide? My gastro has no input regarding diet, and I'm only now beginning to get some understanding of lc.
I've read conflicting articles online re. food sensitivity testing. I'm not questioning the credibility of any particular lab, just trying to understand if they show a true sensitivity that I need to avoid. I read that we will have igg to the foods we eat, and it doesn't mean there's a sensitivity. I always have so many when I test, most are mild, some medium, and 1-3 strong. Maybe the difference is in testing stool vs. blood, with stool being more accurate and reliable? I've tested through two different labs since 2016, and they were blood. I'd rather test and know what to avoid, so that I can actually heal, and not have to solely rely on reintroduction.
It is my understanding that I need to avoid sensitivities while I am still on the budesonide, or D will come right back once I discontinue the budesonide. This is probably why this is my third time on budesonide this year. I could only go 2 weeks off before the D was full blown back. This round, I've done 9mg two wks, 6mg two wks, and 3mg two months, 3mg every other day. I have 3mg every other day to do for another month. I need to be on an elimination diet before I come off, I'm just not sure how long? I know if I quit budesonide right now, it would be back. I triggered it last week and had D 12 times in a day. I went out and had a beer :( I did celiac testing and negative, but clearly gluten sensitivity. I had also started taking prescription iron that day (ferrous sulfate 325mg every other day), not sure how that plays in. Apparently since last January, I have become anemic, "severely anemic", according to my doctor. I did 3mg every day instead of every other day for six days to straighten out.
So, I'm not sure when to come off of budesonide in relation to being on an elimination diet, and then if and when I should do a food sensitivity test?
I appreciate all help, thanks very much.
I've been on budesonide for most of this year, properly diagnosed with lc June 2019, after being misdiagnosed and chronically I'll since 2013. I'm trying to recover from a divorce from a 24yr marriage, the budesonide has just kept things at bay while I processed the emotions, now I need to eat clean again and heal.
I'm going to do the aip protocol (mickey trescott and angie alt), four week elimination and meal plan to reset. I used to do keto for years. I'm just trying to determine if I should do the food sensitivity test or not. I believe I read that it will not be accurate anyhow because I am taking 3mg budesonide every other day, so i may need to wait for a period after stopping the budesonide? My gastro has no input regarding diet, and I'm only now beginning to get some understanding of lc.
I've read conflicting articles online re. food sensitivity testing. I'm not questioning the credibility of any particular lab, just trying to understand if they show a true sensitivity that I need to avoid. I read that we will have igg to the foods we eat, and it doesn't mean there's a sensitivity. I always have so many when I test, most are mild, some medium, and 1-3 strong. Maybe the difference is in testing stool vs. blood, with stool being more accurate and reliable? I've tested through two different labs since 2016, and they were blood. I'd rather test and know what to avoid, so that I can actually heal, and not have to solely rely on reintroduction.
It is my understanding that I need to avoid sensitivities while I am still on the budesonide, or D will come right back once I discontinue the budesonide. This is probably why this is my third time on budesonide this year. I could only go 2 weeks off before the D was full blown back. This round, I've done 9mg two wks, 6mg two wks, and 3mg two months, 3mg every other day. I have 3mg every other day to do for another month. I need to be on an elimination diet before I come off, I'm just not sure how long? I know if I quit budesonide right now, it would be back. I triggered it last week and had D 12 times in a day. I went out and had a beer :( I did celiac testing and negative, but clearly gluten sensitivity. I had also started taking prescription iron that day (ferrous sulfate 325mg every other day), not sure how that plays in. Apparently since last January, I have become anemic, "severely anemic", according to my doctor. I did 3mg every day instead of every other day for six days to straighten out.
So, I'm not sure when to come off of budesonide in relation to being on an elimination diet, and then if and when I should do a food sensitivity test?
I appreciate all help, thanks very much.
Re: Enterolab accuracy
Every time you stop and then restart a budesonide treatment, it will be slightly less effective. Eventually, after enough cycles, it will no longer be effective.
You're not reading the best information. IgG Antibody levels are irrelevant regarding this disease. That's one of the reasons why blood tests are useless.
You need to read the last issue of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation's Newsletter. Here's a direct link to that issue:
Latest MCF Newsletter
Click here to go to the MCF website where you can sign up for a free email subscription to the monthly newsletter
I hope this helps to clarify testing for food sensitivities.
Tex
You're not reading the best information. IgG Antibody levels are irrelevant regarding this disease. That's one of the reasons why blood tests are useless.
You need to read the last issue of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation's Newsletter. Here's a direct link to that issue:
Latest MCF Newsletter
Click here to go to the MCF website where you can sign up for a free email subscription to the monthly newsletter
I hope this helps to clarify testing for food sensitivities.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: Enterolab accuracy
Wow, thanks for your help :)
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Bsrcookie@aol.com
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2024 10:49 am
Re: Enterolab accuracy
How long should I be off Budesonide before testing with EnteroLab?
Re: Enterolab accuracy
Hi,
Welcome to the group. For years, the lab had guidelines that said that if you had only been using budesonide for several months, it would have no effect. Using budesonide for roughly 6 months, would have a slight effect, and using budesonide for a year or more would have a major effect on the results (the test results would show false negatives, because long-term use of budesonide suppresses the immune system).
Lately, they seem to have relaxed those guidelines, but unless I had money that I didn't mind losing, I believe I would follow their earlier guidelines, just to be on the safe side. If you've been using budesonide for less than a year, it probably won't significantly affect your results, so it wouldn't be necessary to wait before ordering a test. Corticosteroids have somewhat persistent pharmacokinetics, so it takes a while to get them out of your system. If I had been using budesonide for a year or more, I would be inclined to wait approximately six weeks before testing. That said, these are uncharted waters, so that's just a best guess, because we're all different.
If I were ordering a test at this point, I would definitely call the lab and make sure that they have worked out everything with delivery services so that they can reliably receive your sample, and they have received all their paperwork from the Greek government so that they can legally perform the testing. They may well be in operation now, for all I know, but not very long ago, they were having all sorts of logistics problems because of red tape, after moving the lab to Greece. I haven't seen any updated information on whether or not they are actually back in normal operation.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to the group. For years, the lab had guidelines that said that if you had only been using budesonide for several months, it would have no effect. Using budesonide for roughly 6 months, would have a slight effect, and using budesonide for a year or more would have a major effect on the results (the test results would show false negatives, because long-term use of budesonide suppresses the immune system).
Lately, they seem to have relaxed those guidelines, but unless I had money that I didn't mind losing, I believe I would follow their earlier guidelines, just to be on the safe side. If you've been using budesonide for less than a year, it probably won't significantly affect your results, so it wouldn't be necessary to wait before ordering a test. Corticosteroids have somewhat persistent pharmacokinetics, so it takes a while to get them out of your system. If I had been using budesonide for a year or more, I would be inclined to wait approximately six weeks before testing. That said, these are uncharted waters, so that's just a best guess, because we're all different.
If I were ordering a test at this point, I would definitely call the lab and make sure that they have worked out everything with delivery services so that they can reliably receive your sample, and they have received all their paperwork from the Greek government so that they can legally perform the testing. They may well be in operation now, for all I know, but not very long ago, they were having all sorts of logistics problems because of red tape, after moving the lab to Greece. I haven't seen any updated information on whether or not they are actually back in normal operation.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.