Celiac disease blood test
celiac test · tTG-IgA · tissue transglutaminase antibodies · gluten intolerance test
This is a blood test from a vein. It looks for antibodies that appear when the gut does not handle gluten well.
For frequent diarrhea, bloating, weight loss, anemia, slow growth in children, or if relatives have celiac disease.
⏱ Duration: the blood draw takes a few minutes; results usually come in a few days
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Gluten. Most important: keep eating bread, pasta, and other wheat foods until the test. Without gluten, the test can look falsely normal.
- Food. It is usually best in the morning before eating. Check with the lab.
- Medicines. Do not stop them on your own. Tell your doctor what you take. They will decide if anything should change.
What to bring
- Your test request form
- Your ID
How it goes
- You sit down and rest your arm on the armrest
- A band is tightened above your elbow
- The skin is wiped with antiseptic
- A quick prick, and blood fills a tube
- The needle comes out, and a cotton pad is pressed on the spot
What you'll feel
- A quick prick, like a pinch
- Sometimes slight dizziness. Tell the nurse
Afterwards
- Press the cotton pad for 3 to 5 minutes and keep your arm straight
- You can eat right away and go back to your usual day
- Do not start a gluten-free diet until you talk to your doctor
- Results usually come in a few days. The lab will tell you when
Common questions
Can I cut out gluten before the test?
No. You need to eat it as usual. Otherwise the test may show nothing.
What happens if the test is positive?
Usually the doctor sends you for an upper endoscopy with a biopsy to confirm it.