Test Detail

ALLERGY, INDIVIDUAL MARKER, GLUTEN, SERUM

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten that damages the small intestine. A person must be regularly consuming gluten for these blood tests to be accurate. Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG)-IgA: This is the primary blood test for celiac disease. High levels of this antibody indicate an immune reaction to gluten. IgA Endomysial Antibody (EMA): This test is highly specific for celiac disease and can be used to confirm a diagnosis when tTG-IgA results are borderline. It is not as sensitive as the tTG-IgA test. Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP)-IgA and IgG: These antibodies are used to screen for celiac disease, especially in individuals with an IgA deficiency, which can cause false-negative tTG-IgA results. HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 genetic markers: These are genes that increase a person's risk of developing celiac disease. Since about 99% of people with celiac disease have one of these genes, a negative genetic test can effectively rule out the condition. However, a positive result does not confirm a diagnosis, as many people with these genes never develop the disease. Intestinal biopsy: A biopsy of the small intestine is the "gold standard" for confirming celiac disease. During an upper endoscopy, a gastroenterologist takes tissue samples to check for characteristic damage, such as villous atrophy.