Free Gluten testing in Chicago

[Guest guest]

FYI: There will be free gluten-sensitivity testing (celiac) on Oct. 25 in

Chicago. I don't know how many of you live near there and may be

interested, but the details are below. " Celiac " is basically gluten

intolerance that is bad enough to that it has caused significant

gut damage, the test they are talking about only picks up the worst

cases, but it can be useful, and in this case it is free if you have

symptoms (symptoms can include getting sick after eating

bread, gut problems, etc, though I'm not sure which symptoms they

are counting).

-- Heidi

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The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Program is offering its fourth

annual free celiac blood screening on October 25th!

Those eligible to participate include people who are related (1st or 2nd

degree) to a family member with biopsy confirmed celiac disease, those with

symptoms suggestive of celiac disease and those with conditions related to

celiac disease. Examples of eligible participants: an individual whose

mother has celiac disease, a child (over 2 years of age) with chronic

diarrhea, and a person with iron deficiency anemia resistant to oral iron

therapy.

All participants must be over two years of age and all must be on a

gluten-containing diet.

PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE. CALL 773-702-7593 TO

REGISTER.

The screening will take place from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm on Saturday October

25, at the Center for Advanced Medicine, part of the University of Chicago

Hospitals. We are expecting over 400 participants!

This event has been generously supported by Prometheus Laboratories.

Attendees will be able to " Ask the Dietitian " Lara Zitnick, RD, LD (from the

University of Chicago Hospitals) questions about the gluten-free diet and

food intolerances, presented by The Gluten-Free Market (Buffalo Grove, IL).

In addition, Living Without will be participating, EnJoy Life Foods will be

sampling their tasty new gluten-free granola, and as a member of the

American Celiac Task Force, we will be asking everyone to sign a larger than

life letter to the Speaker of the House about the need for improved food

labeling in the United States! You'll also be able to purchase your very own

celiac disease awareness ribbon pin!

Because many people ask, it's important to note that the free testing is

only offered on this date at the University of Chicago Hospitals.

Participants must be on site to have their blood drawn. Because we are

expecting a record number of participants, those who do not come at the time

they are scheduled (you will receive this information when you register) can

expect to wait longer to be served. We do our very best to move people

through the process as quickly as possible! (Last year we had 283 people

from seven states!)