stool vs blood serum testing
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stool vs blood serum testing
I was diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis back in 2020 and did 2 months of Budesonide and it helped. Fast forward to this January and I've been dealing with bouts of diarrhea daily and am waiting on getting scheduled for a colonoscopy to determine if its LC causing it again before GI will prescribe it. So I'm in limbo with regards to that and have been doing a carnivore diet the past 2 weeks. I saw my naturopath doc on Friday and she wants me to get the "US BioTek 144 IgG Food Panel plus Candida." She said that she wants me to wait till after my colonoscopy and my gut is calmed down a bit then do this lab test. I mentioned the testing at EnteroLab and asked if the stool testing for antibodies would be better but she said she didn't thinks so because it could give false positive results. I'm not sure what to do. Which test is better and when to do it? Both of these labs are very expensive and I don't mind paying for a test but want it to be accurate for what I'm dealing with. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Re: stool vs blood serum testing
Your naturopath is mistaken. This discussion and support forum is almost 18 years old, and if you research the database, you will find that our members have had very poor results for detecting food sensitivities associated with the digestive system, when attempting to use blood tests or skin tests. On the other hand, they have had consistently accurate results when using the stool tests offered by Enterolab. Consequently, we have been very satisfied with their results, and their interpretations that are sent with the results. With very, very few exceptions, our members who carefully follow the lab's recommendations are able to achieve remission, and stay in remission.
The database contains many posts regarding blood test attempting to discover food sensitivities, but so far, every one of them has revealed far too many false positive results, and most importantly, false negative results. A false negative result will prevent most MC patients from ever being able to achieve remission.
For example, read the recent discussion topic at the link below, especially the last post in the thread:
https://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=25423
I hope this helps,
Tex
The database contains many posts regarding blood test attempting to discover food sensitivities, but so far, every one of them has revealed far too many false positive results, and most importantly, false negative results. A false negative result will prevent most MC patients from ever being able to achieve remission.
For example, read the recent discussion topic at the link below, especially the last post in the thread:
https://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=25423
I hope this helps,
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: stool vs blood serum testing
Thank you so much for your response.
Is there a link to any articles that I can share with my doctor about this?
Also...is there a "best time" to do the stool sampling? During a flareup? on medication? when symptoms are gone? Any guidance is appreciated. I will also continue to search/read the threads on this site. Thank you so much.
-Sheila
Is there a link to any articles that I can share with my doctor about this?
Also...is there a "best time" to do the stool sampling? During a flareup? on medication? when symptoms are gone? Any guidance is appreciated. I will also continue to search/read the threads on this site. Thank you so much.
-Sheila
Re: stool vs blood serum testing
I'm sorry, but I don't have time to search for a link that might be suitable for your Doctor. Most doctors are generally prejudiced against stool tests because the stool tests they've tried in the past, offered by other labs, typically didn't work. Also, they're not fond of the Enterolab tests, because doctors don't get a commission out of them, since they're sold directly to patients.
The best time to use the Enterolab tests is as soon as possible, so that you can use the results to simplify your journey to remission. There are two exceptions to this rule:
1. One in 500 people in the general public have selective IGA deficiency, so therefore all ELISA based lab test don't work correctly for them, including the blood tests that doctors use to screen for celiac disease, and the Enterolab stool tests.
2. Anyone who has been taking budesonide or some other systemic steroid for more than a few months, may receive results that show reduced sensitivity levels, including the possibility of false negatives, because budesonide and any other steroids suppress the immune system after a few months, so that it doesn't reaction normally to food sensitivities. Anyone who has been taking budesonide for a year or more, will receive results that are practically useless, because of the immune system suppression.
Anyone can get to remission without ordering any food sensitivity testing, if they carefully follow an elimination diet, but having the Enterolab test results eliminates having to avoid foods that may not be causing any problems.
Sorry that I could be more helpful.
Tex
The best time to use the Enterolab tests is as soon as possible, so that you can use the results to simplify your journey to remission. There are two exceptions to this rule:
1. One in 500 people in the general public have selective IGA deficiency, so therefore all ELISA based lab test don't work correctly for them, including the blood tests that doctors use to screen for celiac disease, and the Enterolab stool tests.
2. Anyone who has been taking budesonide or some other systemic steroid for more than a few months, may receive results that show reduced sensitivity levels, including the possibility of false negatives, because budesonide and any other steroids suppress the immune system after a few months, so that it doesn't reaction normally to food sensitivities. Anyone who has been taking budesonide for a year or more, will receive results that are practically useless, because of the immune system suppression.
Anyone can get to remission without ordering any food sensitivity testing, if they carefully follow an elimination diet, but having the Enterolab test results eliminates having to avoid foods that may not be causing any problems.
Sorry that I could be more 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: stool vs blood serum testing
No worries! Thank you so much for all of this! I greatly appreciate it.