One simple blood test is all that may be needed to determine if a person has a gluten intolerance issue or is suffering from Celiac disease. In both instances, there will discomfort within the digestive tract whenever gluten products are consumed. When Celiac disease is present, then there will be specific antibodies present that can be measured through the gluten intolerance blood test. In order for the test to be accurate, an individual must be eating gluten-containing foods for the antibodies to develop.
This means the first step in the diagnosis process for gluten intolerance and to distinguish it from an allergy to wheat or Celiac disease is to test for these antibodies. The name of this particular test is the tTG-IgA blood test. It’s the most sensitive test out of all the blood tests which are available. 98% of people who have Celiac disease will test positive on this blood test.
A negative result does not confirm that the bothersome signs and symptoms are due to a gluten intolerance issue. 2% of the population with Celiac disease will also test negative on the tTG-IgA blood test. For this reason, additional testing is often ordered if this first gluten intolerance blood test comes back as being negative.
There Is a Risk Present For a False Positive Result
Not only will some patients naturally test negative on the gluten intolerance blood test, certain co-existing medical conditions can create false results. People with liver disease, Type 1 diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, or certain heart conditions can also test have negative test results on the first gluten intolerance blood test.
That’s why there are 3 additional tests which may be ordered and then compared with the first initial results to help come up with a diagnosis.
The EMA blood test looks for specific antibodies that are created when gluten is consumed as well. The specificity of this test is nearly 100%, although up to 10% of people who do have Celiac disease will have a negative test result. This gluten intolerance blood test is usually reserved for those who have a difficult diagnosis because it is relatively expensive and requires cord blood to complete.
The IgA total serum blood test is a second option when trying to screen out the possibility of Celiac disease. When Celiac disease is present in the body, it may naturally produce a false negative on the EMA blood test because of an IgA deficiency. This test can determine if that deficiency is present. If it is, then a third and final blood test may be ordered.
The DGP IgA or IgG blood test is used as a further screen to test for antibodies. The results of these tests will then be compared to each other in order to determine if there is the possibility of Celiac disease present.
It is possible for people to test negative for all antibodies and still have Celiac disease instead of a gluten intolerance. In this rare circumstance, an additional gluten intolerance blood test may be necessary.
Genetic Testing May Help To Confirm a Diagnosis
People who have Celiac disease also carry the HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 genes – or both of them. The only problem is that 40% of the general population also carries one or both of these genes. This means testing positive on this gluten intolerance blood test does not mean someone will develop Celiac disease, but the results can be used with other test results to put together a diagnostic picture.
Genetic testing may also become a first priority for a gluten intolerance diagnosis if the individual involved has already switched over to a gluten-free diet. No antibodies against gluten can be produced without its consumption, but the genetic testing can at least determine if further testing may be required. This specific test can be done with a cheek swab, with saliva, or through the use of a blood test.
As a final resort, when all testing methods are inconclusive for gluten intolerance, a biopsy of the small intestine may be needed. This is the only current method of diagnosis Celiac disease. If the biopsy comes back as negative and there are no histamine results to gluten from allergy testing, then a gluten intolerance will be confirmed.
Gluten intolerance can be a serious condition because it can lead to pain, cramping, bleeding, and changes to bowel habits. The symptoms of gluten intolerance are actually the same as if someone has Celiac disease. The only difference is the lack of an autoimmune response. Ask for this testing series if you suspect that gluten could be causing your bothersome signs and symptoms so you can receive the answers you need for your health.