If anyone remembers I posted a while back that the Elisa Tech. company was coming out with a home gluten test strip. The lady had told me she didn't know the pricing, but that it would be affordable. I noticed yesterday they were on the site, but didn't have too much info. or the price so I e-mailed them and this was the reply:
"The EZ Gluten is a great product and brand new. Within the next few days I will have the UPS shipping on the site for people to see how much it willl cost for shipping. In the meantime, I looked up on UPS for you and figure about $11.00 for shipping (give or take- as I do not know the exact particulars).
The prices are as follows:
2 pack test $25.00
5 pack test $60.00
10 pack test $110.00
In the EZ Gluten™ Test, a food sample is ground to a fine consistency, added to the gluten extraction solution, and then mixed. A few drops of the sample extract are placed into a test tube. The EZ Gluten™ test strip is placed into the test tube and allowed to absorb the sample extract. After 10 minutes, the test strip can be read visually for the presence of gluten in the sample. (This is in the instruction booklet that comes with the kit.)
We will be able to begin shipping next week.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask."
Not exactly something you would probably want to use in a restaurant and the price is fairly high. In all fairness though I have used the flow through test on their site which is designed for small companies and compared to that this is super easy to use and it is cheaper. The link to the EZ gluten strips is:
http://www.elisa-tek.com/ez%20gluten.htm
have to say it's not quite what I expected and at this price it has a limited use...
I still am mystified when this product could ever be used.
I'm glad that you posted this.
I'm always interested in new things, but I just can't wrap my head around this product other than to put lots of bucks in someones pocket at the expense of the gluten intolerant. To me, it's just another gimick.
I'm glad that you posted this.
I'm always interested in new things, but I just can't wrap my head around this product other than to put lots of bucks in someones pocket at the expense of the gluten intolerant. To me, it's just another gimick.
It's too bad it is so pricey. I wouldn't mind being able to test meds and other occasional suspect things. Not at that cost though. I'll wait until the price come downs to real life.
Doesn't sound like a consumer product and more for a factory QC test. Then again I wonder if 2 pack means only 2 tests or if each pack may contain a number of strips. Wish they were more clear on it. Sure would be nice to test something before we eat it. although waiting 10 minutes like this says would seem like a long time when everyone else at the table digs in.
Thanks for the info
Thanks for the info
QUOTE (kenlove @ Feb 27 2008, 11:43 PM) 
Doesn't sound like a consumer product and more for a factory QC test. Then again I wonder if 2 pack means only 2 tests or if each pack may contain a number of strips. Wish they were more clear on it. Sure would be nice to test something before we eat it. although waiting 10 minutes like this says would seem like a long time when everyone else at the table digs in.
Thanks for the info
Thanks for the info
My hope is that things like this will become less pricey in the near future. It could be useful if somehow you had no other choice and it was important you eat at such and such event. Nevertheless I would still bring my own food along in case it didn't pass muster.
Yolo
Yikes! 
Still not feasable. Too bad, I wish I could eat at my mom's again.
Still not feasable. Too bad, I wish I could eat at my mom's again.
Why is it that the scenario I have playing in my head of the earnest Ceeglutenistas rummaging in their purses and whipping out the test tubes at the home of the relatives as everyone is seated at the Thanksgiving table is... not going to end happily ever after ?
QUOTE (Takala @ Feb 28 2008, 01:24 PM)
Why is it that the scenario I have playing in my head of the earnest Ceeglutenistas rummaging in their purses and whipping out the test tubes at the home of the relatives as everyone is seated at the Thanksgiving table is... not going to end happily ever after ?
ROFLMAO!!!
QUOTE (Takala @ Feb 28 2008, 02:24 PM)
Why is it that the scenario I have playing in my head of the earnest Ceeglutenistas rummaging in their purses and whipping out the test tubes at the home of the relatives as everyone is seated at the Thanksgiving table is... not going to end happily ever after ?
So OK you are on a plane and they won't let you bring your own food. Maybe this would be a good time to test what they are about to give you? Either that or starve? Or maybe we will start having to get a doctors prescription so we can bring food in from outside the airport?
Yolo
I do hope the price comes down! It would be such a helpful tool to have. Thanks for the info.
I'm new and questioning: So what else it there? Any other tests? What else can we do?
QUOTE (alleyalligator @ Feb 28 2008, 07:52 PM)
I'm new and questioning: So what else it there? Any other tests? What else can we do?
Hi Alley and welcome.
After a while the gluten free diet will become second nature. The only thing that you can really trust is yourself
QUOTE (Momma Goose @ Feb 28 2008, 05:01 PM)
Hi Alley and welcome.
After a while the gluten free diet will become second nature. The only sure thing is to depend on yourself.
After a while the gluten free diet will become second nature. The only sure thing is to depend on yourself.
Thanks for the support - working on it.
Takala - My relatives don't make me feel so bad for my disorder... they encourage me to research and worry about me... even during Thanksgiving. Gosh - what if you had something even more devasting?!
QUOTE (alleyalligator @ Feb 28 2008, 08:27 PM)
Thanks for the support - working on it.
Takala - My relatives don't make me feel so bad for my disorder... they encourage me to research and worry about me... even during Thanksgiving. Gosh - what if you had something even more devasting?!
Takala - My relatives don't make me feel so bad for my disorder... they encourage me to research and worry about me... even during Thanksgiving. Gosh - what if you had something even more devasting?!
I am glad for you to have such a supportive family. That is such a blessing!
Mine are much more difficult although I do have one brother who is semi supportive and a sister who is greatful to be clued into the diet. The deal is almost everyone in my family has signs of this celiac. Makes them a bunch of cranks! No offense but I was that way too. It degrades the nerves after all...
Yolo
QUOTE (yolo @ Feb 28 2008, 03:16 PM)
So OK you are on a plane and they won't let you bring your own food. Maybe this would be a good time to test what they are about to give you? Either that or starve? Or maybe we will start having to get a doctors prescription so we can bring food in from outside the airport?
Yolo
Yolo
Don't get me going on the topic of Homeland "Security" at airports.
Edible items may be brought aboard in carry on, as long as the airlines do not recognize them as anything a normal person would care to eat, non flammable, and as long as the security alert is only "orange" and not "red."
Fluids above a certain amount (what is it today, 2 ounces? what will it be tommorrow, 10 milliliters?) are not allowed to be carried on. A fun thing to do is to take a bottle out of your carrybag in line and chug the contents down in front of the security personel, and then see what their reaction is when you ask if the airplanes will have restrooms working on this flight.
So, in other words, if you can eat food designed for rodents such as chinchillas and chipmunks, and don't need to drink anything once you've "slipped the surly bonds of earth," and can absorb the humidity from the air, you're in luck.
If you are a parent with a toddler who isn't breast feeding anymore, you've just entered the Twilight Zone.
There is no way something that looks like, no, actually is a home chemistry kit is going to make it thru the airline security check if you have to use fluids with it.
Not to mention the paranoia of the stewardesses and the other passengers after listening to the airport PA system drone on for hours about Security Levels and Watch Your Luggage.
Rest assured, if you start playing with test tubes and airline food in your seat, the anonymous flying Air Marshall is gonna lay down that carry- on personal pan size pizza they just bit into and smack those plastic handcufts on you faster than you can say "Gliadin !" If I would have to use airline transportation I convert my diet to extremely low carb and higher protein and fat ahead of time, so I can switch my metabolism to fat burning and won't get hungry and can go a long time without eating or getting lightheaded. Because using your hypothetical, if I was to rely on "airline food" and it tested contaminated, I just would be out of luck expecting the airline or the airport to be able to remedy the situation and provide a clean alternative... if they can't even keep the airplanes flying "on time," why should they care whether or not the passengers go hungry? They are supposed to be grateful they were just allowed on the plane.
~~~~~~~~~
But back to the "family dinner" scenario. Holiday gatherings with elaborate meals are expected to be oohed and ahhhed upon, not critiqued with labratory analysis proving the hostess chef cooked it in a way to make the guests deathly ill. Given the social dynamics of the mothers-in-laws situation with daughters and sons, I would hesitate to perform this in front of them lest it be misintrepreted as to intent. As it would be.
QUOTE (Takala @ Feb 29 2008, 07:49 PM)
Don't get me going on the topic of Homeland "Security" at airports.
Edible items may be brought aboard in carry on, as long as the airlines do not recognize them as anything a normal person would care to eat, non flammable, and as long as the security alert is only "orange" and not "red."
Fluids above a certain amount (what is it today, 2 ounces? what will it be tommorrow, 10 milliliters?) are not allowed to be carried on. A fun thing to do is to take a bottle out of your carrybag in line and chug the contents down in front of the security personel, and then see what their reaction is when you ask if the airplanes will have restrooms working on this flight.
So, in other words, if you can eat food designed for rodents such as chinchillas and chipmunks, and don't need to drink anything once you've "slipped the surly bonds of earth," and can absorb the humidity from the air, you're in luck.
If you are a parent with a toddler who isn't breast feeding anymore, you've just entered the Twilight Zone.
There is no way something that looks like, no, actually is a home chemistry kit is going to make it thru the airline security check if you have to use fluids with it.
Not to mention the paranoia of the stewardesses and the other passengers after listening to the airport PA system drone on for hours about Security Levels and Watch Your Luggage. Rest assured, if you start playing with test tubes and airline food in your seat, the anonymous flying Air Marshall is gonna lay down that carry- on personal pan size pizza they just bit into and smack those plastic handcufts on you faster than you can say "Gliadin !"
If I would have to use airline transportation I convert my diet to extremely low carb and higher protein and fat ahead of time, so I can switch my metabolism to fat burning and won't get hungry and can go a long time without eating or getting lightheaded. Because using your hypothetical, if I was to rely on "airline food" and it tested contaminated, I just would be out of luck expecting the airline or the airport to be able to remedy the situation and provide a clean alternative... if they can't even keep the airplanes flying "on time," why should they care whether or not the passengers go hungry? They are supposed to be grateful they were just allowed on the plane.
~~~~~~~~~
But back to the "family dinner" scenario. Holiday gatherings with elaborate meals are expected to be oohed and ahhhed upon, not critiqued with labratory analysis proving the hostess chef cooked it in a way to make the guests deathly ill. Given the social dynamics of the mothers-in-laws situation with daughters and sons, I would hesitate to perform this in front of them lest it be misintrepreted as to intent. As it would be.
Edible items may be brought aboard in carry on, as long as the airlines do not recognize them as anything a normal person would care to eat, non flammable, and as long as the security alert is only "orange" and not "red."
Fluids above a certain amount (what is it today, 2 ounces? what will it be tommorrow, 10 milliliters?) are not allowed to be carried on. A fun thing to do is to take a bottle out of your carrybag in line and chug the contents down in front of the security personel, and then see what their reaction is when you ask if the airplanes will have restrooms working on this flight.
So, in other words, if you can eat food designed for rodents such as chinchillas and chipmunks, and don't need to drink anything once you've "slipped the surly bonds of earth," and can absorb the humidity from the air, you're in luck.
If you are a parent with a toddler who isn't breast feeding anymore, you've just entered the Twilight Zone.
There is no way something that looks like, no, actually is a home chemistry kit is going to make it thru the airline security check if you have to use fluids with it.
Not to mention the paranoia of the stewardesses and the other passengers after listening to the airport PA system drone on for hours about Security Levels and Watch Your Luggage.
Rest assured, if you start playing with test tubes and airline food in your seat, the anonymous flying Air Marshall is gonna lay down that carry- on personal pan size pizza they just bit into and smack those plastic handcufts on you faster than you can say "Gliadin !" If I would have to use airline transportation I convert my diet to extremely low carb and higher protein and fat ahead of time, so I can switch my metabolism to fat burning and won't get hungry and can go a long time without eating or getting lightheaded. Because using your hypothetical, if I was to rely on "airline food" and it tested contaminated, I just would be out of luck expecting the airline or the airport to be able to remedy the situation and provide a clean alternative... if they can't even keep the airplanes flying "on time," why should they care whether or not the passengers go hungry? They are supposed to be grateful they were just allowed on the plane.
~~~~~~~~~
But back to the "family dinner" scenario. Holiday gatherings with elaborate meals are expected to be oohed and ahhhed upon, not critiqued with labratory analysis proving the hostess chef cooked it in a way to make the guests deathly ill. Given the social dynamics of the mothers-in-laws situation with daughters and sons, I would hesitate to perform this in front of them lest it be misintrepreted as to intent. As it would be.
You are probably right. However something has got to change. Somehow there needs to be reliable airport food for celiacs etc. if they won't allow us to bring our own food--especially for long journeys like across country or to Europe etc.
Maybe the test can be used to monitor gluten free restaurants from time to time to see if the standard is safe. A kind of Safety Seal thing perhaps.
I get your irony about the family etc. Maybe though in future it will become less complicated.
Other than this I am hoping in future some scientists will perfect one of those antidotes to gluten for us that they are working on.