It’s estimated that around 1 in 100 people worldwide are living with celiac disease; an autoimmune disease that causes an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. If diarrhea or bloating are commonplace after you’ve eaten bread, pasta, cakes, or cereals, it’s important to check in on your body and see what may be causing these symptoms.
If you are at risk for celiac disease or are experiencing some unfavorable symptoms after eating products containing gluten, your doctor will use blood testing to diagnose celiac disease. There are two blood tests that can diagnose the disorder; serology testing (or antibody testing) or genetic testing. This test can be taken from home with an at-home lab test such as LetsGetChecked’s at-home Celiac Test.
Can you test for Celiac disease from home?
For people with celiac disease, eating foods containing gluten triggers an immune response in your small intestine resulting in cramping, bloating, abdominal pain, and a whole host of other symptoms. If celiac disease goes untreated, it can cause a number of complications such as malnutrition and lactose intolerance. This is why if you’re experiencing symptoms or if a close family member has the condition, it’s important to get tested so you can know more.
A celiac disease test is a blood test. There are two types that can help diagnose it; serology testing looks for antibodies in the blood, elevated levels of antibody proteins can indicate an immune reaction to gluten, and genetic testing which looks for leukocyte antigens to rule out celiac disease.
If you would like to take a test from home, LetsGetChecked’s at-home Celiac Test can identify celiac disease by checking for antibodies in the blood. It tests for tissue transglutaminase (tTG) (low levels are indicative of celiac disease) and endomysial antibodies (EMA) (high levels can suggest celiac disease).
The test will arrive in discreet packaging with a return envelope and clear instructions inside. It will involve a simple finger prick sample and online results will be available to you within 2-5 days. Should you have any questions, our dedicated clinical team will be available to help in any way throughout the process. If you need further information about the collection process, you can find out more here.
What are the early warning signs of celiac disease?
Despite popular belief, there is no cure for celiac disease but, for most, following a gluten-free diet can help manage symptoms. It’s important to get tested early to avoid any serious complications.
Common indicators of celiac disease include:
- Discomfort after eating products that contain gluten
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Bloating and gas
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
If you’re experiencing unpleasant symptoms after eating products that contain wheat, rye, barley, and oats - you should take a celiac test. The process is simple:
- The test is shipped directly to you by next day delivery
- Activate your test and answer a few health-related questions
- Your health record will be reviewed by a medical team member and should you need any support services, they will be provided
- Collect your sample at a time that suits you
- Send your sample back to our laboratory using the pre-paid shipping label provided
- Your sample will be processed in an anonymous and timely manner
- Your results will be reviewed by our team of doctors. A member of our nursing team will contact you to deliver your results, discuss any next steps and offer prescriptions in some cases
You should consider taking the test if:
- You’re experiencing digestive discomfort for over two weeks
- You have had diarrhea for over two weeks
- You have thyroid issues
- You have type 1 diabetes
- You have Turner syndrome
- You suffer from rheumatoid arthritis
- You suffer from colitis (inflammation of the inner lining of the bowel)
