Screening for celiac disease was available to visitors to the recent Food Faire sponsored by the Southern Arizona Celiac Support Group in Tucson. A local lab donated 100 CD blood screening tests and the group recruited volunteer fully-qualified phlebotomists to administered the tests. People interested in being tested registered in advance and testing was limited to persons whose family history indicated a strong need for testing. There is a waiting list of persons to be tested in the future.

Last month’s gluten free faire in Sacramento offered the same service, and both groups were unable to accomodate the large number of visitors requesting screening. The persons being screened certainly benefitted; the visitors who viewed the display absorbed valuable information about celiac disease.

I applaud these two groups for their pioneering effort! What a wonderful way to increase celiac awareness in our communities. The 200 people who were screened were given reassurance and/or the help they needed. These people are our new spokespersons for celiac awareness.

In both cases, the medical supplies needed for the testing were donated by local laboratories. Apparently the cost is not prohibitive. I will cerrtainly working to oursuade the Portland, Oregon, (my home town) to include screening at our Faire next May.

Published 05/09/09