Celiac Screening: What’s Next?

Did you know that approximately 1% of the population has celiac disease? Of that percentage, an estimated 83% of Americans are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with some other condition.¹

Unfortunately, left untreated this condition can cause considerable damage to your health². Take important steps in the right direction by learning more about celiac disease and evaluating your risk. 

Getting an official diagnosis

Please note: To have accurate results in celiac testing, you must continue to eat gluten until after the testing is complete.  

imaware's celiac screening test is not an official diagnosis — its role is to measure the likelihood of having celiac disease based on four key celiac-associated biomarkers. Each biomarker has a unique cut-off value for what is considered a negative or positive indication of celiac disease. If your results show any values greater than the cut-off value, then that corresponds with a higher likelihood of having celiac disease. 

Here are the cut-off values for the following biomarkers³: 

• tTG IgA: 5.4 U/mL
• tTG IgG: 6.4 U/mL
• DGP IgA: 14.7 U/mL
• DGP IgG: 10.5 U/mL

If your blood test does show a high probability, those results can be used to engage in further testing with a healthcare professional specialized in intestinal and digestive health, like a gastroenterologist.  

The official diagnosis process typically includes an upper endoscopy and biopsy⁴. This procedure involves a tiny tube entering your intestine to view current conditions and collect samples for further analysis. With these samples, they evaluate the villi — tiny, hair-like structures that line the small intestine⁵ — because damaged villi are often an indication of celiac disease.⁶

Going gluten-free

As you may have guessed, the treatment for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet.

It may seem daunting at first, but gluten-free offerings and recipes have come a long way in the past few years. Nevertheless, it's essential to check for certified gluten-free labels and read ingredients lists while you familiarize yourself with what products are naturally gluten-free and which ones, surprisingly, aren't (I'm looking at you, soy sauce).  

There are many celiac communities, like Beyond Celiac, that you can join for support and advice on how to live with celiac disease. 

Moving forward

In addition to the celiac screening test, imaware also has a celiac disease monitoring test for individuals already diagnosed with celiac disease. 

This test monitors your body's response to a gluten-free diet by screening the same four biomarkers as before. Over time, the results should indicate decreasing levels as your body gradually adapts to a gluten-free diet. 

With the monitoring test, you will be able to see if the gluten-free diet is helping you heal. If the treatment plan is not working as expected it could be a sign that you’ve tried it too soon after starting your gluten-free diet, that gluten is still sneaking into your system or you need to consult your doctor for further testing. 

Summary

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition where eating gluten results in damage to your small intestine. Individuals with celiac disease must follow a strict gluten-free diet to avoid further long-term damage to their health. 

If you think you have celiac disease it is important that you consult your healthcare professional for an official diagnosis so you can start your treatment plan quickly.