Celiac Disease Testing By Lifelabs

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by eating grains that contain gluten such as wheat, rye, and barley. Over time, this autoimmune response to a perceived threat can cause irreversible damage to the small intestine and prevent your body from absorbing nutrients critical for good health. About 1% of Canadians have celiac disease and it can appear at any age. 

Celiac symptoms and food intolerance or allergies can appear to be similar, but allergies and intolerances do not damage the lining of the intestine. It’s important to determine the causes of your symptoms so that you have the right care plan developed.

What is Celiac Test?

If a person has celiac disease, their body produces two antibody proteins, immunoglobin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG), in response to a perceived threat, in this case, gluten. LifeLabs offers a combination of two tests to measure the amount of these proteins in the blood:

• Anti TTG IgA
• Anti Deamidated Gliadin IgG

While IgA is the primary antibody produced in individuals with celiac, some people have an IgA deficiency which produces a false negative. This is why our bundle of celiac tests includes a second test to detect the antibody IgG.

Who Should Get Tested?

You can be tested for celiac disease at any age. The symptoms are often nonspecific and variable, making the disease difficult to spot. You should speak with your doctor if you have a family history of celiac disease, or if you are experiencing one or more of the symptoms commonly associated with celiac disease including:

• abdominal pain and bloating
• chronic diarrhea
• weight loss
• extreme fatigue
• flatulence
• unexplained iron-deficiency anemia
• joint pain

How Can an Individual Get Tested?

Testing is completed by LifeLabs at a Patient Service Centre or via our mobile lab service (available in select cities) through a simple blood sample. You will require a completed test requisition from your healthcare provider.

Results:

Test results will be provided directly to your healthcare provider for discussion with you. The report will indicate:

• Whether IgA protein is present in your blood and the levels
• Whether IgG protein is present in your blood and the levels

If your test results show the presence of either the IgA or IgG proteins, your healthcare provider may suggest additional testing before developing a treatment plan. Order the test here.