Test for Coeliac Disease
What is gluten?
Many people have adverse reactions to gluten which is part of the protein found in wheat, oats, rye and barley. In extreme cases this manifests itself as coeliac disease. However many sufferers, who would not necessarily be diagnosed as coeliac, find that their health improves dramatically with the removal of gluten from the diet.
It is important to remember that some people have coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity without significant symptoms. Coeliac disease is usually recognised early in childhood, but may disappear in adolescence and reappear later in adulthood.
If you experience any of the following symptoms you should consider the Gluten sensitivity Coeliac Test.
- Unexplained weight loss, inability to maintain a healthy weight
- Diarrhoea, steatorrhoea (grey or light tan fatty stools)
- Foul-smelling stools that float
- Abdominal cramps
- Bloating and excessive wind
- Symptoms worse after eating wheat, oat, rye or barley
- Low energy, depression
- Aching joints
- Anaemia
- Infants and children may experience failure to thrive (FTT) or stunted growth
- Dermatitis
- Weight gain and oedema may occur if there is an IgG-type reaction
Why choose the gluten antibody test?
- Identifies at an early age any possible gluten-sensitive patients and enables action to prevent any further damage to the gut wall, as well as the development of allergies or intolerances
- Prevents malnutrition and anaemia
- Detects gluten sensitivity
- Enables initial evaluations into coeliac disease
- If other members of the family have coeliac or gluten sensitivity it is important to check all family members as there is a genetic link
What is being measured
It is now known that coeliac disease involves an abnormal immune response in which the body produces specific gluten antibodies to fight the gluten but these react with an individual’s own digestive tract. Elevated levels of specific antibodies can diagnose this reaction.
Specimen requirements
1 blood sample
Before taking the test
If you have been avoiding gluten for some time one of the antibodies will come up with a false negative reading so it is important that you eat some gluten containing grains prior to completing the test.
See test instructions for more information
Turnaround Time
16 Days
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