Biocard Celiac Test Kit – Profile & Giveaway {CLOSED}

In Canada the month of May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month.  According to the Canadian Celiac Association it is estimated that 1 in 133 persons in Canada are affected by Celiac Disease and an estimated 97% of those affected are still undiagnosed.  With such a wide variety of symptoms not just specific to Celiac Disease, it can lead a lot of people to wonder if their ailments could be from Celiac Disease all while doing possible damage.

When I had to get Princess R tested for Celiac Disease, living in Ontario the provincial health plan does not cover this blood test for the laboratories and it costs us $123.  In February 2008 Health Canada approved the Biocard Celiac Test Kit – the first and only at-home kit available in Canada.

Biocard Celiac Test Kit allows for at-home testing with results in as quick at 10 minutes. No more waiting for lab appointments and results. This revolutionary test is as accurate as all laboratory tests for celiac disease in hospitals and private labs with a 92% sensitivity rate, 95% specificity rate and 93.5% accuracy.  The Biocard sells for only $50 and can be purchased through your pharmacist or online at www.celiachometest.com.

In brief, the Biocard Celiac Test involves taking a fingertip whole blood sample into a glass capillary tube, which is then inserted into a vial containing a hemolysing buffer to liberate the tissue transglutaminase (tTG) from the blood. If the antibodies against tTG are present in the sample, they form immune complexes with the liberated transglutaminase.  The diluted sample is then pressed through the filter tip to the test strip. They are then visualized in the Biocard Celiac Test kit and detected by eye as a positive test line. 

Basically in 10 minutes just using a small sample of blood (like a diabetes test) the test will be able to measure the persons antigen-antibody complex to measure the tTG antibodies in the blood.  AKA – in 10 minutes this remarkable test will be able to tell you if you have celiac disease!

Since I have celiac disease – this puts my immediate family at a 1 in 10 chance of also having celiac disease.  In order to have a successful test – you need to NOT be on a gluten free diet. Gluten must be in your system for at least 4 weeks (eating approximately the equivalent of 1-4 slices of gluten bread) daily.  Since my sister has not been on the gluten free diet but has wondered if she has Celiac disease she donated her time and blood.

Biocard Celiac Test Kit comes in a small package that contains test card and filter tip, sterile automatic lancet, 10microlitre glass capillary tube, 1 alcohol swab, 1 bandage, 1 vile containing 05 milliliter sample dilution buffer and an instruction leaflet.  The leaflet explains very thoroughly how to complete the test and their website also has a video that walks you through the process.

The test was easy to complete and we waited the 10 minutes to wait for the results. My sister was nervous because she really did not want to test positive. After 10 minutes we went back and read the test – one line = negative. 

If you test positive, Biocard Celiac Test Kit recommends you continue with a normal diet containing gluten until the celiac disease diagnosis is confirmed by a small bowel biopsy. Each kit has a letter to take to your doctor explaining the positive test if you did indeed test positive. 

If your test was negative it is not a life-long negative as celiac disease can develop at any time. Another reason for a negative could be if you are not on a gluten containing diet – which is why it is important to test only if you are still eating a diet containing gluten.

2G Pharma Inc are generously offering 2 Biocard Celiac Tests for you to win and check if you have celiac disease.

Giveaway Rules:
This giveaway is open to residents of Canada ONLY. It begins on May 5, 2010 and will end on May 19 2010 at 9 pm. Two winners with valid entries will be selected at random using random.org. The winner will be announced and must respond with a current email address within 48 hours to claim. Otherwise, another eligible entry will be chosen. The more extra entries you do the better your chances. Good Luck!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway and a HUGE thank you to Biocard for supplying us with an amazing chance to win.  The winners have been contacted and if no reply is made within 48hrs I will be selecting a new winner.

Biocard Celiac Home Test Kit sent me 2 test kits for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated for this review. These are my own honest opinions and experiences with this product.

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