If you suspect gluten sensitivity or celiac disease but have yet to get them diagnosed, testing could be your answer. Here is what you need to know about gluten intolerance test and how you can find one suitable for yourself.
Diagnoses of gluten sensitivity or celiac can often be made using symptoms, diet and blood tests. People living with gluten sensitivity or celiac will typically see their symptoms improve with an elimination diet free of gluten.
Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance
Gluten intolerants typically experience several adverse symptoms when consuming foods containing wheat, barley or rye; such symptoms include bloating, nausea and fatigue.
Note that many of these symptoms could also be the result of another health condition; therefore, it’s advisable to speak to your physician before concluding that you are gluten intolerant.
Gluten intolerance symptoms typically include abdominal bloating and pain, gas, diarrhea, constipation and fatigue; frequent headaches and brain fog can also occur.
While there is no single test to diagnose gluten intolerance, healthcare providers may use blood and skin prick testing in combination with an elimination diet to rule out celiac disease or wheat allergies and diagnose non-celiac gluten sensitivity instead.
How to Test for Gluten Intolerance
Gluten intolerance can cause digestive issues like diarrhea, gas, and constipation in people. People may find their symptoms improve when all gluten-containing products are removed from their diet.
Gluten intolerance has yet to be fully understood; however, some researchers suspect its origin lies within intestinal inflammation or an impaired small intestinal lining.
People suffering from celiac disease (and gluten intolerance) can be identified through blood tests to check for specific antibodies; alternatively, doctors may perform a biopsy on their small intestine to look for damage areas.
Celiac Disease Symptoms
Celiac disease is a digestive condition in which you are sensitive to gluten – the protein found in wheat, barley and rye – leading to inflammation in the small intestine and keeping essential nutrients from reaching your body.
Your doctor can diagnose celiac disease with blood tests that detect abnormally elevated levels of infection-fighting cells called antibodies in your bloodstream. He or she may also suggest conducting a biopsy – taking tissue from your small intestine for further inspection under a microscope.
Celiac disease symptoms include bloating, diarrhea and weight loss. Your physician will treat your condition by eliminating gluten from your diet and teaching you how to read food labels.
Your doctor will also recommend a specific diet and vitamins to assist your intestines in absorbing nutrients more readily, and this diet should see your symptoms diminish within a few days of starting it.
Gluten Intolerance Tests
There are various gluten intolerance tests available, including blood, saliva and stool testing services. DIY kits tend to be inaccurate and expensive; therefore it’s best to entrust professional testing services for accurate results.
Celiac Disease Test: This blood test measures your antibody levels for celiac disease (CD). If the results show celiac, your doctor may order an endoscopy using thin tubes that take pictures of your small intestine.
Labs produces this gluten intolerance test known as the G12 gluten test to detect 33-mer peptides present in wheat, barley and rye products.
Other Food Sensitivity Test: This blood test detects over 200 common foods, such as gluten, that could trigger allergic reactions in humans. A finger prick sample is taken and results are returned within 7 days to the company receiving it.
Concierge medical services also provide in-home gluten and allergy testing that’s more accurate than DIY kits, all from the comfort of your own home.
