Celiac Disease Genetic Testing Awareness Campaign Launched by Kimball Genetics

If you would like to learn more about celiac disease genetic testing, or read about my personal experience with Kimball Genetics, be sure to read the following two related articles:Celiac.com 11/29/2006 - Kimball Genetics, Inc. announces its participation this week at the XII International Celiac Disease Symposium in New York City and its support of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University. Kimball Genetics has a strong commitment to celiac disease education and genetic testing for this common, chronic, autoimmune disorder. Celiac disease affects approximately 1% of the U.S. population but is highly underdiagnosed, with less than 10% of cases currently detected. In genetically susceptible individuals with the specific markers HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8, ingestion of gluten-containing grains causes inflammation of the small intestine and leads to malabsorption. Symptoms may be gastrointestinal and/or a wide range of other multi-systemic manifestations such as iron-deficiency anemia, chronic fatigue, osteoporosis, dermatitis herpetiformis, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Early diagnosis and lifelong treatment with a gluten-free diet is critical to relieve inflammation and symptoms and to reduce the risk for development of secondary autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes. Silent celiac disease, involving inflammation without symptoms, is also important to detect and treat.

Kimball Genetics offers the Celiac Disease DNA Test, a genetic test with increasingly recognized importance in the diagnostic work-up of celiac disease. The test is valuable because it excludes the diagnosis of celiac disease in patients with a negative result, detects family members at risk for the disorder, and is accurate even when the patient is on a gluten-free diet. Both antibody testing and small bowel biopsy require going off a gluten-free diet to gain reliable results if the patient initiated the diet before diagnosis.

Kimball Genetics is the only laboratory presently offering celiac disease DNA testing on cheek cell specimens with results available in one day. Dr. Peter Green of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University says "Cheek cell testing at Kimball Genetics is convenient and tremendously popular with my patients since it eliminates the need for blood draw. The one-day turnaround time and expert genetic counseling provided with Kimballs service are much appreciated." The Celiac Disease Foundation also recommends Kimball Genetics Celiac Disease DNA test due to these unique features of its service.

In concurrence with the National Institute of Healths "Celiac Disease Campaign for Health Care Providers and Public," Kimball Genetics, Inc. conducts ongoing educational efforts including presentations to gastroenterologists, family practitioners, nautropaths, chiropractors, and nutritionists, and assists national celiac support groups. Dr. Annette Taylor and genetic counselors from Kimball have written an in depth review about celiac disease, co-authored by Dr. Peter Green, soon to be published in GeneReviews online. In addition, Kimball Genetics is collaborating with Drs. Xavier Castellanos and Dominick Auciello from New York University Child Study Center and Dr. Peter Green from Columbia University on an exciting new research study to determine the incidence of celiac disease in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or learning disabilities.

About Kimball Genetics, Inc.

Founded in 1994 by Annette K. Taylor, M.S., Ph.D., Kimball Genetics is a national DNA diagnostic laboratory specializing in testing for common genetic disorders that are preventable or can be treated. Known for its unparalleled turnaround time and distinctive focus on genetic counseling and education, the company has a major focus on celiac disease and is at the forefront of education and testing for this disorder. Other major areas of testing currently include inherited hypercoagulability, hemochromatosis, cystic fibrosis, and fragile X syndrome. Soon Kimball will be expanding into pharmocogenomic testing which allows for the personal customization of drug therapy.