Кръвни тестове - Асоциация Цьолиакия България

Blood tests for diagnosing celiac disease

Specific blood tests are used to diagnose celiac disease, which detect antibodies produced by the body in response to eating gluten. Your doctor may order these tests to check for the presence of such antibodies.

Blood tests in adults with suspected celiac disease:

Total Immunoglobulin A (Total IgA)

IgA antibodies against tissue transglutaminase (tTG-IgA)

If the result for tTG-IgA is weakly positive, an additional test for endomysial antibodies (EMA-IgA).

Blood tests in children with suspected celiac disease:

Total IgA

tTG-IgA

Important information before the test

For the results to be accurate, it is necessary to continue consuming gluten until blood tests and a possible small intestine biopsy are performed. Reducing or eliminating gluten from the diet before the tests can lead to false negative results.

Negative blood test results

It is possible that blood tests are negative, even if you have celiac disease. If you have stopped consuming gluten before the test, the results may not reflect your true condition.

If you have symptoms suggestive of celiac disease but blood tests are negative, discuss with your doctor the possibility of IgA deficiency.

IgA deficiency and alternative tests

Some people with celiac disease do not produce enough IgA antibodies, which can lead to false negative results. This condition is called IgA deficiency.If in doubt, the laboratory should measure Total IgA levels.

If you have IgA deficiency, the following alternative tests may be used:

IgG endomysial antibodies (EMA-IgG)

IgG antibodies against deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP-IgG)

IgG antibodies against tissue transglutaminase (tTG-IgG)

When to consult a specialist if results are negative?

If your tests are negative but you have symptoms that persist or worsen, especially if you have type 1 diabetes or you are a close relative of someone with celiac disease, consultation with a specialist is highly recommended. Celiac disease has various manifestations, so early and accurate diagnosis is essential for your health.