A self-administered celiac screening for gluten reaction aims to detect if a person has celiac disease, or an immune system response to the protein in wheat, barley, and rye. The test checks for antibodies associated with celiac disease, which can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and lead to malabsorption of nutrients in the small intestine. This condition can affect people of all ages, but is more common among those with Northern European ancestry.
Celiac disease is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that affects around 1% of the population. It occurs when ingestion of gluten triggers a damaging autoimmune response in genetically susceptible individuals, resulting in damage to the intestinal mucosa. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation, bloating, gas, fatigue and weight loss. People with this disorder cannot absorb vital minerals and vitamins from food, which can lead to malnutrition.
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Saliva Test for Celiac Disease: How Accurate Is It?
Those with gluten intolerance do not experience the same symptoms as those with celiac disease, but they still may feel that consuming gluten is problematic. Diagnosis of non-celiac gluten sensitivity requires ruling out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as wheat allergy and irritable bowel syndrome. In some cases, a diagnosis of non-celiac gluten sensitivity is made through an elimination diet involving removing all foods containing gluten from the diet for 6 weeks, and then reintroducing them one at a time to see how the body responds.
Most at-home tests involve a finger-prick blood sample that is sent to a laboratory for analysis, and then a person receives the results online or via a mobile app. Medical News Today looks at the best at-home celiac testing kits available, explains what they test for, and discusses how these tests can be used to help a person understand their symptoms.