Coeliac disease is a gluten sensitive enteropathy. Requests for a coeliac screen will be tested for IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG). If positive a follow up test of IgA anti-endomysial antibodies will be performed as a confirmatory test. In patients with coeliac disease and total IgA deficiency, only IgG antibodies are seen. Where IgA deficiency is detected, IgG endomysial Ab will be requested by the laboratory. An IgA verification bead is included in this assay and is therefore able to detect patients who are IgA deficient which makes the requesting of IgA unnecessary. Indicated in the investigation of coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. Chronic diarrhoea. Iron and folate deficiency. Reduced bone density.
Tube
Serum Gel
ID
29812
Additional information
Positive anti- tTG and Endomysial are supportive of a diagnosis of Coeliac disease. Biopsy confirmation is still recommended. There is a good correlation with disease activity, with relapse or poor compliance with a gluten free diet often associated with a return of positive anti-tTG and endomysial Ab. Positive anti-tTG are present in 85-100% (sensitivity) of untreated adults with coeliac disease (specificity is 71-100%). IgA anti-tTG is more sensitive but less specific than IgA endomysial Ab (sensitivity 85-100%; specificity 94-100%), and is therefore used as a confirmatory test. Joint BSPGHAN and Coeliac UK guidelines are now available for the diagnosis and management of coeliac disease in children (Published 2013).
Turn around
7 days
Send to
Leeds General Infirmary
Clinical Immunology
Old Medical School
Great George Street
Leeds
LS1 3EX
Collection Con
Please note that coeliac screening assays are sensitive to a gluten free diet – i.e. results are often negative in those excluding gluten from the diet.
Frequency
Daily
Sample REQ
Blood
Ref. Range (Male)
N/A, interpretive
Ref. Range (Female)
N/A, interpretive
Ref. Range (Paed)
N/A, interpretive
Ref. Range (Notes)
Endomysial Ab = Positive/Weakly positive/Negative
Units
N/A
IP Acute TAT
Contact Laboratory
IP Routine TAT
8 days
GP Acute TAT
Contact Laboratory
GP Routine TAT
8 days