Gluten Intolerance Test Archives - Gluten Free Society

Should You Eat Gluten Before Celiac Blood Test?

Bobby Chandler — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:20:42 +0000

How Celiac Testing Works

There are several different options to test for celiac disease.

Blood Testing: A blood test is available that checks for certain antibodies. People with celiac disease who eat gluten produce antibodies in their blood because their immune systems view gluten as a threat. It is important to note that you must be on a gluten-containing diet for antibody blood testing. It is also important to note that these types of tests can also be misleading, as they can come back falsely negative about 10-15% of the time.
Endoscopy: An endoscopy is when a tube is inserted down your throat so that a practitioner can look at your small intestine for inflammation or damage. They may also take a small biopsy of your intestines. Like blood testing, you must be eating a diet that contains gluten for this test to be accurate. This type of testing is accurate when positive, but missed diagnosis is common. A biopsy finding villous atrophy can also be misleading because other things can cause atrophy beyond gluten, such as parasites, glyphosate, non steroidal anti inflammatories (NSAIDS), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) used traditionally for heartburn, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) used for depression and mood disorders, etc.
Genetic Testing: Genetic testing is a highly accurate look at your genes to understand whether you have a genetic predisposition to reacting to gluten. Make sure to get a test that measures for all genes linked to gluten sensitivity (HLA-DQ1/HLA-DQ3) and celiac disease (HLA-DQ2/HLA-DQ8). Some tests only check for genes linked to celiac disease.

Should You Get Tested?

You might be wondering if you should get tested for celiac disease at all. Here are some instances in which you should test for celiac disease:

If you are experiencing symptoms of celiac disease, it is best to get tested to confirm a diagnosis and rule out other potentially complicating factors
If you know that you have a family history of celiac disease – first-degree relatives of people with celiac disease (parents, siblings and children) have a much greater risk compared to 1 in 100 in the general population
If you have an associated autoimmune disorder or other condition, especially type 1 diabetes mellitus, autoimmune thyroid disease, autoimmune liver disease, Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, Williams syndrome, or a selective immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency. Research continues to link the autoimmune spectrum of diseases to gluten sensitivity.

Some people prefer to use symptom recognition as an alternative to formal testing. The benefits to this are that it does not require gluten consumption prior to testing, and it is also less expensive or invasive than some of the other methods. However, the symptoms of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity can overlap with other conditions and can vary greatly from person to person. This can make a diagnosis challenging. Common symptoms include the following:

Digestive symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation
Skin issues like rash, eczema, or dermatitis herpetiformis
Fatigue, brain fog, or difficulty concentrating
Joint pain, muscle aches, or inflammation
Headaches or migraines
Mood changes, depression, or anxiety
Nutrient deficiencies due to malabsorption
Irregular menstrual cycles or fertility issues

Despite testing flaws and potential false negatives, the best way to diagnose celiac disease is to test. If your test shows up negative, you may want to try a gluten free diet for a few weeks to see if that helps your symptoms. We also suggest working with an experienced practitioner who can help dig deeper to determine if there are other factors at play, like bacteria or yeast overgrowth, infections, parasites, leaky gut, or other conditions.

Should I Eat Gluten Before Celiac Blood Test?

In order to ensure an accurate result on a blood test or endoscopy, you do need to continue eating gluten. This is because once you have eliminated gluten from your diet, antibodies to gluten will start to decrease in your blood, and your intestine will start to heal. Therefore, if you eliminate gluten from your diet prior to a test, there is a risk of a false negative result on both a blood test and endoscopy.

How Much Gluten Should I Eat Before a Celiac Test?

We know that if you have avoided gluten from your diet for a long time, you may be nervous to reintroduce it for fear of dealing with the many symptoms that can come with gluten consumption. This hesitation is understandable and valid, so always consider your own personal circumstances in deciding when and how to introduce gluten into your diet prior to a test.

The Celiac Disease Center at the University of Chicago recommends eating gluten every day, in an amount equivalent to at least 1 slice of bread, for at least 2 to 3 weeks prior to undergoing biopsy.

However, we understand that this type of approach may result in significant discomfort, so know that gluten in any amount prior to your test will help with the accuracy of the results. Smaller or more infrequent servings may work better for your own personal circumstances. In addition, you can consider the quality of the gluten that you choose to consume. Something like organic sourdough may cause less discomfort and have fewer other side effects than a refined and processed form of gluten.

It is best to perform your testing and pre-testing gluten consumption alongside a practitioner who is experienced in working with those with celiac disease. A gluten challenge is not recommended before the age of 5, during puberty, or during pregnancy, as the consumption of gluten can affect nutrient absorption and lead to deficiencies.

Conclusion

There are a number of different ways to test for celiac disease. Both blood testing and endoscopy can yield false negative results and require that you eat gluten before testing in order to increase the chance of an accurate result. As an alternative, genetic testing is available to test for the genes that predispose you to celiac disease. Genetic testing is non-invasive and does not require that you eat gluten prior to testing.

The post Should You Eat Gluten Before Celiac Blood Test? appeared first on Gluten Free Society.

Take The Gluten Sensitivity Quiz

Bobby Chandler — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 18:26:21 +0000

The proper gluten intolerance test tools must be used to accurately assess gluten sensitivity, whether in children or in adults. This is where a lot of people and doctors get confused. Without an accurate test, you may never have a black and white answer in regards to whether or not you have a gluten intolerance.

Traditionally, a gluten intolerance test is only designed to diagnose celiac disease. Remember that gluten sensitivity is not a disease, but it contributes to the development of disease. Celiac disease is only one medical condition caused by gluten. Many people have other diseases caused by gluten sensitivity. If your doctor uses a gluten test to diagnose celiac disease on you and it comes back negative, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have gluten sensitivity. The intestinal biopsy and serum blood tests are examples of inaccurate medical tests for gluten sensitivity. A genetic sensitivity to gluten test offers the greatest degree of accuracy and when combined with a patient’s history and examination, identifying the need to go gluten free can be determined early and accurately. Gluten Free Society offers genetic testing and educational services about gluten such as how common gluten intolerance is.

The Gluten Free Diet Is Not A Trend

Because going on a gluten-free diet takes a great deal of education and commitment, it is recommended that proper gluten sensitivity testing be performed to identify whether the diet is right for you. Remember going gluten-free is not a trendy diet; it is a permanent lifestyle that should be taken very seriously as even small amounts of gluten exposure can cause problems. It is critical for individuals with gluten intolerance or celiac disease to adhere strictly to a gluten-free diet to manage their condition effectively and prevent potential health complications. To accurately diagnose a gluten sensitivity or gluten intolerance, the right gluten intolerance test must be used.

Genetic testing is the gold standard for evaluating gluten sensitivity. Unfortunately, many doctors still use antiquated and inaccurate gluten sensitivity tests. Examples of these gluten intolerance tests include:

Anti-gliadin antibodies – this is a blood test that measures for antibodies to one of the types of gluten found in wheat. It is not very comprehensive and often times gives false-negative results.
Anti-tissue transglutaminase – this test is only specific for celiac disease and also has a tendency to come back falsely negative.
Intestinal Biopsy – this test is also only specific for celiac disease and comes back with a lot of false negatives.

Genetic testing is available here.

Gluten Intolerance Symptoms

Gluten intolerance, also known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, is a condition in which individuals experience adverse reactions to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. The symptoms of gluten intolerance can vary widely from person to person, but commonly include:

Gastrointestinal issues:
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Excessive gas
Fatigue
Headaches
Joint pain
Skin problems:
- Rashes
- Eczema
Brain fog
Difficulty concentrating
Mood swings

Gluten Intolerance can manifest in painful and frustrating ways. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, a gluten intolerance test will be beneficial for you. Testing for gluten intolerance can provide you with the answers you need to live a healthier and happier lifestyle. Our gluten intolerance test allows you to know whether or not a gluten intolerance may be causing your symptoms.

Am I Gluten Intolerant?

Some people feel so much better after going gluten free, that they forgo any gluten intolerance test and just stick to the diet. Some people need a black and white answer – Am I gluten sensitive or not? Without a solid answer from a gluten intolerance test, they have trouble justifying the diet and usually cheat on a frequent basis.

The problem with cheating is that gluten can cause damage to the body in very small amounts (20 ppm). If you are gluten intolerant, sticking to a gluten-free diet is critical in preventing health complications. The best way to get this black and white answer is to have a gluten intolerance test performed. While genetic testing is the gold standard and gives you complete visibility, it can be expensive. If you cannot afford to have genetic gluten sensitivity testing performed, take our quick at-home self gluten intolerance test above that you can use to help determine whether or not you are gluten sensitive with our symptoms checklist.

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