Effective Tuesday, July 29, 2003, the current IgA class anti-TTG EIA which uses guinea pig TTG antigen will be replaced by a new EIA utilizing human TTG antigen.

Test sensitivity and specificity are improved with the new reagents. Sensitivity of the anti-human TTG EIA for celiac disease in untreated patients has been reported in literature to be 95% or greater whereas the value is 67-86% for the guinea pig anti-TTG assay. Specificity is also improved to 97-100% with the new reagents. As of July 29, all specimens from patients not previously tested will be run with the new assay. For specimens from patients who have been previously tested, the new assay will be run in parallel with the current test until the old reagents are exhausted and both results will be reported.

Normal Range: <20 IU (unchanged from current EIA)

Days Performed: Tuesdays

Questions: Contact Dr. James Goeken (6-1966), Dr. John Kemp (5-8233), Dr. Michael Icardi (4-8632) or the Immunopathology Laboratory at 356-2688.