Celiac Disease Screening

A celiac disease screening is a blood test that looks for signs that you may have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes a serious allergic reaction to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and other grains. It may also be found in other products like vitamins and supplements, hair and skin products, toothpaste, and lip balm.

This test can tell if you have celiac disease by looking for antibodies to gluten in your blood. Antibodies are disease-fighting substances made by the immune system. Normally, your immune system makes antibodies to fight foreign substances like viruses and bacteria.

But if you have celiac disease, your immune system does this whenever you eat or drink gluten. This can cause your antibodies to attack the lining of the small intestine, where cells called villi absorb nutrients from the food that you eat. Repeated attacks will damage these cells making nutrient-absorption much more difficult.

Why this test is done

You may need a celiac disease test if you have symptoms of celiac disease. Symptoms are different for children and adults.

Symptoms of celiac disease in children include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal (belly) bloating
• Constipation
• Chronic diarrhea and foul-smelling stool (poop)
• Weight loss and/or failure to gain weight
• Delayed puberty
• Irritable behavior

Because celiac disease damages the digestive system over time, symptoms of celiac disease in adults often include digestive problems such as:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Chronic diarrhea
• Unexplained weight loss
• Decreased appetite
• Abdominal (belly) pain
• Bloating and gas

Digestive symptoms are also common in people with gluten sensitivity and wheat allergies. But celiac disease is different than these conditions. They can cause similar symptoms, but celiac disease is the only one that damages the small intestine.

Many adults with celiac disease may also have symptoms that are not related to digestion. These include:

• Iron-deficient anemia
• An itchy rash called dermatitis herpetiformis
• Mouth sores
• Bone loss
• Depression or anxiety
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Missed menstrual periods
• Tingling in the hands and/or feet

You may need a celiac test if you are at higher risk of having the disease, even if you don't have symptoms. You are more likely to have celiac disease if a close family member has celiac disease. You may also be at higher risk if you have another autoimmune disorder, such as type 1 diabetes.

How to prepare

If the test is being used to diagnose celiac disease, you'll need to continue to eat foods with gluten for a few weeks before testing. Your provider will give you specific instructions about how to prepare for the test.

If the test is being used to monitor celiac disease, you don't need any special preparations.

Sample type

Blood

Other names for this test

celiac disease antibody test, anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody (anti-tTG), deaminated gliadin peptide antibodies, anti-endomysial antibodies