Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the digestive system. When people with celiac disease consume gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and triticale, their immune system mistakenly attacks the small intestine. This damage hinders the proper absorption of nutrients from food.

This test may be beneficial if you experience digestive discomfort after consuming gluten-containing foods such as wheat, barley, rye, or triticale. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, excessive gas, nausea, vomiting, and unexplained weight loss.

This test may not be suitable for you if:

You have a confirmed diagnosis of celiac disease.
You haven’t consumed gluten in the past three months. If you’re considering reintroducing gluten for testing purposes, it’s essential to consult your healthcare provider first.

Understanding Your Celiac Disease Screening Test
Our celiac disease screening test follows a standardized medical approach. It involves checking for specific antibodies in your blood that may indicate celiac disease.

The primary test measures tTg-IgA and total IgA. tTg-IgA is the most reliable indicator of celiac disease in people with normal IgA levels.

If your tTg-IgA is negative and your total IgA is low or cannot be determined, we will also test for DGP-IgG. This is because individuals with low IgA levels may also have celiac disease but test negative for tTg-IgA. DGP-IgG helps identify these cases.

By conducting these tests, we can effectively screen for celiac disease and rule out potential factors affecting the results, such as IgA deficiency.

Your test results will identify specific antibodies associated with celiac disease. These include total immunoglobulin A (IgA), tissue transglutaminase immunoglobulin A (tTG-IgA), and, in certain cases, deamidated gliadin peptide immunoglobulin G (DGP-IgG). When someone with celiac disease consumes gluten, their immune system responds by producing these antibodies, leading to intestinal inflammation and damage. The presence of these antibodies, combined with related symptoms, may indicate celiac disease. However, a definitive diagnosis requires further testing and evaluation by a healthcare professional.

A member of our patient care team will contact you if your results indicate an indeterminate or increased risk of celiac disease. UM Diagnostics can provide information about these results and help prepare you for a productive conversation with your healthcare provider. It’s essential to share your results and any symptoms you’re experiencing with your healthcare provider. They can review your results in conjunction with your medical history and symptoms, and order further celiac disease testing if necessary to determine if celiac disease is affecting your health.