Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by an immune response to gluten consumption that can lead to gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort, loose stools, weight loss, and other symptoms. If you are seeking guidance and answers because you think you may have the disease, then this screening test is for you. Our Celiac Disease Antibody Test is the first step in determining whether you may have celiac disease, providing the answers you need to take control of your health from the lab that doctors trust most.
This screening test detects and measures antibodies your body may produce as an immune response after you consume gluten, if you have celiac disease.
Preparation: This test is not intended for patients already on a gluten-free diet. You should see your healthcare provider for evaluation before considering this test if you have any concerning symptoms such as blood in your stool, fever, unusual weight loss, excessive diarrhea or abdominal pain.
Our Celiac Disease Antibody Test follows American College of Gastroenterology guidelines by measuring tTG-IgA and total IgA.
If necessary, a second test will be performed to measure tTG-IgG and DGP-IgG.¹
Some people do not experience any obvious symptoms related to celiac disease, but nevertheless undergo an immune response that causes damage to the small intestine (villous atrophy).³
1. Rubio-Tapia A, Hill ID, Semrad C, Kelly CP, Lebwohl B. American College of Gastroenterology Guidelines Update: Diagnosis and Management of Celiac Disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2022;118(1):59-76. doi:https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000002075
2. Celiac Disease Foundation. Testing. Celiac Disease Foundation website. Accessed December 19, 2022. https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/screening-and-diagnosis/screening/
3. Celiac Disease Foundation. Symptoms of Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease Foundation website. Accessed December 19, 2022. https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/symptoms-of-celiac-disease/
4. Celiac Disease Foundation. What is Celiac Disease? Celiac Disease Foundation website. Accessed December 19, 2022. https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/what-is-celiac-disease/
5. Taylor AK, Lebwohl B, Snyder CL, et al. Celiac Disease. 2008 Jul 3 [updated 2019 Jan 31]. In: Adam MP, Everman DB, Mirzaa GM, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993–2022. PMID: 20301720.
6. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Celiac Disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Accessed December 19, 2022. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/celiac-disease
7. Cosnes J, Cellier C, Viola S, et al. Incidence of autoimmune diseases in celiac disease: protective effect of the gluten-free diet. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Jul;6(7):753-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2007.12.022.
8. Celiac Disease Foundation. Non-Celiac Gluten/Wheat Sensitivity. Celiac Disease Foundation website. Accessed December 19, 2022. https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/related-conditions/non-celiac-wheat-gluten-sensitivity/
9. Goldberg D, Kryszak D, Fasano A, Green PH. Screening for celiac disease in family members: is follow-up testing necessary? Dig Dis Sci. 2007 Apr;52(4):1082-6. doi: 10.1007/s10620-006-9518-1.
<p>1. Rubio-Tapia A, Hill ID, Semrad C, Kelly CP, Lebwohl B. American College of Gastroenterology Guidelines Update: Diagnosis and Management of Celiac Disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2022;118(1):59-76. doi:<a title="American College of Gastroenterology Guidelines" href="https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000002075" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000002075</a></p> <p>2. Celiac Disease Foundation. Testing. Celiac Disease Foundation website. Accessed December 19, 2022. <a href="https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/screening-and-diagnosis/screening/" target="_blank">https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/screening-and-diagnosis/screening/</a></p> <p>3. Celiac Disease Foundation. Symptoms of Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease Foundation website. Accessed December 19, 2022. <a href="https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/symptoms-of-celiac-disease/" target="_blank">https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/symptoms-of-celiac-disease/</a></p> <p>4. Celiac Disease Foundation. What is Celiac Disease? Celiac Disease Foundation website. Accessed December 19, 2022. <a href="https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/what-is-celiac-disease/" target="_blank">https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/what-is-celiac-disease/</a></p> <p>5. Taylor AK, Lebwohl B, Snyder CL, et al. Celiac Disease. 2008 Jul 3 [updated 2019 Jan 31]. In: Adam MP, Everman DB, Mirzaa GM, et al., editors. <i>GeneReviews®</i> [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993–2022. PMID: 20301720.</p> <p>6. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Celiac Disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Accessed December 19, 2022. <a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/celiac-disease" target="_blank">https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/celiac-disease</a></p> <p>7. Cosnes J, Cellier C, Viola S, et al. Incidence of autoimmune diseases in celiac disease: protective effect of the gluten-free diet. <i>Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol</i>. 2008 Jul;6(7):753-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2007.12.022.</p> <p>8. Celiac Disease Foundation. Non-Celiac Gluten/Wheat Sensitivity. Celiac Disease Foundation website. Accessed December 19, 2022. <a href="https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/related-conditions/non-celiac-wheat-gluten-sensitivity/" target="_blank">https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/related-conditions/non-celiac-wheat-gluten-sensitivity/</a></p> <p>9. Goldberg D, Kryszak D, Fasano A, Green PH. Screening for celiac disease in family members: is follow-up testing necessary? <i>Dig Dis Sci</i>. 2007 Apr;52(4):1082-6. doi: 10.1007/s10620-006-9518-1.</p>
IgA is a class of antibody that is found throughout your body, especially in the GI tract and is involved in many of your immune responses. If your IgA levels are low or deficient, additional testing will be done to further screen your risk of celiac disease.
This is the primary screening test used to detect IgA antibodies to tTG (tissue transglutaminase).
This test detects IgG antibodies to tTG (tissue transglutaminase) and will be performed only if your IgA level is low or deficient.
This test measures IgG antibodies to DGP (deamidated gliadin peptide) and will be performed only if your IgA level is low or deficient.
View your easy-to-read results online in your Labcorp Patient™ account, including Linked Accounts. For certain results that require prompt attention, you will also be contacted by phone or mail.
Celiac disease affects people differently with a wide variety of potential symptoms. People may experience digestive symptoms or symptoms in other parts of the body. The most common symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating and gas, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, headaches or migraines, iron-deficiency anemia and weight loss. However, some may experience no symptoms at all but are nonetheless at risk if they remain undiagnosed and untreated.⁶
Find out if you have an increased risk for celiac disease with the Celiac Disease Foundation’s symptoms assessment tool.
Adults concerned they may have celiac disease, first-degree relatives of people with celiac disease and individuals with an associated autoimmune disorder or other condition, especially Type 1 diabetes mellitus, autoimmune thyroid disease, autoimmune liver disease, Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, Williams syndrome and selective immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency should be tested for celiac disease.⁴
Celiac disease can be serious and being undiagnosed and untreated with a gluten-free diet can cause long-term complications such as anemia, malnutrition, poor bone health and increased risk of other autoimmune disorders.⁷
This Celiac Disease Antibody Test is the first step in screening for celiac disease. Our test screens for celiac disease by measuring your antibody levels. If your results suggest celiac disease is possible or likely, talk to your healthcare provider who may consider further testing in order to diagnosis celiac disease with a small bowel biopsy.
Symptoms for both celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity can be similar to one another and may be improved by a gluten-free diet. However, only people with celiac disease will test positive for antibodies specific to the autoimmune disorder involving inflammation and damage to the small intestine.⁸
This test measures your total immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgA antibodies to tTG (tissue transglutaminase). If your total IgA levels are low or deficient, a second test is conducted to examine levels of IgG antibodies to tTG (tissue transglutaminase) and IgG antibodies to DGP (deamidated gliadin peptide).
When taking this test, it is important to currently have gluten in your diet in order for accurate testing and results. If you have celiac disease and are on a gluten-free diet for two or more weeks, your celiac antibodies will decrease over time and may be undetectable.
If your results suggest celiac disease is possible or likely, you should share your results and any symptoms you are having with your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can determine if additional testing is necessary and discuss next steps on how to improve your health and wellness.
If your initial results indicate celiac disease is unlikely but you have a first-degree relative with celiac disease, it is reasonable to repeat this celiac antibody test in 4-5 years because celiac disease can develop at any age in people who are genetically susceptible.⁹
