5 gluten intolerance tests and considerations

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This article explores the differences between gluten intolerance, an allergy, and celiac disease. It also lists food sensitivity tests that are available online.

• Best celiac test: LetsGetChecked Celiac Test
• Best comprehensive food sensitivity testing: YorkTest Premium Food Sensitivity Test
• Best with a hair sample: U.S. Food Intolerance Core Test
• Best for a budget: GlutenCHECK Gluten Intolerance Test by NanoRepro
• Best for a cheek swab: Targeted Genomics Gluten ID Test

The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) reports that there is no such thing as a gluten allergy. Gluten intolerance is not an allergy. And, people may often confuse the term “gluten allergy” with a wheat allergy.

Three different conditions can cause symptoms of gluten intolerance:

• Wheat allergy: A wheat allergy occurs due to an immune response to wheat grain, not gluten. It is most common in children.
• Celiac disease: Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune condition that damages parts of the intestine responsible for absorbing nutrients.
• Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is a syndrome that causes problems with the intestines. These issues do not occur due to a wheat allergy or celiac disease.

As the Celiac Disease Foundation notes, people with gluten sensitivity may experience symptoms similar to those of celiac disease. However, they may not test positive for celiac disease on home gluten intolerance tests.

This is because people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity do not produce the antibodies associated with celiac disease. These are the antibodies that home tests look for.

The ACAAI reports that few people with gluten intolerance symptoms have celiac disease.

Causes of gluten intolerance

Researchers are still investigating the exact cause of this gluten intolerance, and a 2015 research review pointed out that the name “non-celiac gluten sensitivity” can change if scientists discover that the underlying issue is a dietary protein other than gluten. This highlights the need for further research.

A 2018 review also described the conflicting evidence about the cause of non-celiac gluten sensitivity. The researchers observed that the cereal protein compound amylase-trypsin inhibitor or fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols, known as FODMAPs, may be responsible for the symptoms of the sensitivity.

The 2015 research review suggested that if the symptoms are due to reactions to proteins such as amylase-trypsin inhibitor, the name of this condition can change to non-celiac wheat sensitivity.

In a 2016 study, researchers found a connection between immune system responses and damage to the intestinal lining in people who reported non-celiac gluten sensitivity. The researchers found that levels of soluble CD14 and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein in the blood were significantly high in this population.

The researchers also noted that levels of circulating fatty acid-binding protein 2 also increased when study participants consumed gluten and decreased when they stopped. This protein is a biomarker that indicates damage to the intestinal lining.

Diagnosing gluten intolerance

Gluten sensitivity can be difficult to diagnose. It requires a person to cut gluten from their diet for 6 weeks and have a doctor monitor their symptoms regularly. After this 6-week period, a person can reintroduce gluten into their diet and see if their symptoms return or worsen.

The ACAAI reports that there is no test for gluten intolerance and confirms that allergists cannot help manage the symptoms.

Symptoms and signs of gluten sensitivity may include:

• nausea
• headache
• bloating, gas, or abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• anemia
• constipation
• joint pain
• fatigue
• depression
• brain fog
• neuropathy, or nerve damage
• skin problems

A person with a wheat allergy may have different symptoms.

A wheat allergy can cause:

• hives or another type of rash
• a runny nose
• a stuffy nose
• sneezing
• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach cramps
• indigestion
• diarrhea
• asthma
• headaches
• anaphylaxis

Can a person suddenly develop intolerance?

The exact cause of gluten sensitivity is unclear. It may be possible for a person to have a sudden onset of symptoms after consuming a triggering food.

But sudden or new symptoms may result from another undiagnosed condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract. If new symptoms appear, it may be a good idea to contact a healthcare professional.

Research states that gluten intolerance is associated with five conditions:

• Celiac disease (CD): This condition is a type of gluten intolerance that can be asymptomatic or involve intestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea and abdominal pain.
• Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS): People with NCGS may have symptoms similar to CD. People may also have symptoms similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome or wheat allergy.
• Gluten ataxia: This condition can cause epilepsy and dementia and often manifests when a person is 50–60 years old. There is a link between an increase in CD antibodies and gluten ataxia.
• Wheat allergy: This condition is one of the most common food allergies. Some symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain, and migraine.
• Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH): This autoimmune condition occurs most commonly in people who are 15–40 years old and have gluten sensitivity.

No test can accurately detect gluten sensitivity. Diagnosing gluten sensitivity involves using an elimination diet, in which a person removes gluten from their diet, monitors their symptoms, and slowly reintroduces gluten to see if their symptoms return.

People may also wish to consult with a healthcare professional, who may order two tests: a blood test and a small intestine biopsy.

A blood test measures the number of antibodies in the blood. A higher than typical amount of antibodies could indicate gluten intolerance.

During a small intestine biopsy, a healthcare professional takes a sample of tissue from the intestine lining and tests it for damage.

The following tests can help determine whether a person has celiac disease. Many look for the presence of antibodies or markers of the condition that are not present in people with gluten sensitivity.

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

Best celiac test: LetsGetChecked Celiac Test

LetsGetChecked offers a wide variety of home testing kits, including those tailored for men’s and women’s health.

The Celiac Test checks for the presence of tissue transglutaminase and endomysial antibodies, both of which are markers of celiac disease. It requires a person to take a blood sample using a finger prick.

The company says that for the test to work, a person needs to eat gluten regularly for 6 weeks beforehand. A person can only complete the test on certain days of the week to make sure that they can send the test to the lab on the same day.

Learn more about LetsGetChecked here.

Best for fast, comprehensive testing: YorkTest Premium Food Sensitivity Test

This checks for a reaction to almost 200 foods, including gluten. It does this by measuring immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels.

To complete the test, a person collects a blood sample with a finger prick test and sends the sample to the YorkTest laboratory.

The lab returns the results within 7 days of receiving the sample.

Best with a hair sample: U.S. Food Intolerance Core Test

U.S. Food Intolerance offers several home tests for food sensitivities based on IgG measurements. Its basic test, the Core Test, can check for sensitivity to gluten and around 300 foods.

However, it is worth noting that no evidence indicates that food sensitivity tests based on IgG levels correlate with symptoms.

To take the test, a person needs to provide a hair sample of five strands. The test also works on color-treated hair.

U.S. Food Intolerance says that results come back within 72 hours and up to 5 days of the lab receiving the sample. The report includes a complementary metal and nutritional deficiency test.

Best for a budget: GlutenCHECK Gluten Intolerance Test by NanoRepro

This is an at-home test for celiac disease that looks for antibodies that relate to the condition.

To take the test, a person needs to provide a blood sample via a finger prick. Next, a person mixes their sample with a solution and compares the color of the mixture with the shades on a color chart. Any changes in the color of the sample mixture can indicate that a reaction occurred.

Best for a cheek swab: Targeted Genomics Gluten ID Test

This is another noninvasive gluten test kit. It performs genetic screening for gluten intolerances and creates a list of recommendations on the basis of a risk spectrum.

The test can return a result of no-celiac genetics, which means a person does not have any variants present that may indicate gluten intolerance.

After ordering the test and performing the swab, people must then send the samples in a prepaid envelope to the company’s labs. The company will provide results in 2–3 weeks.

The table below provides a quick comparison of the tests in this article.

People may wish to consider the following factors when choosing a gluten intolerance test:

• Privacy: People may want to consider the company’s privacy policy, such as the length of time a company holds onto samples and whether it anonymizes the samples and results. People may also wish to consider whether the company will delete personal information at an individual’s request.
• Cost: People may wish to consider whether their insurance covers gluten intolerance testing and whether the company selling the tests accepts insurance, flexible spending accounts, or health saving accounts.
• Type of sample: Many companies require a blood sample, often through a finger prick. People may wish to consider whether they are comfortable taking a blood sample and choose a test accordingly.

Home tests may indicate whether a person has celiac disease, but anyone with symptoms of gluten intolerance should consider speaking with a doctor for a diagnosis.

No effective gluten sensitivity blood or stool tests exist. Doctors diagnose it by ruling out other conditions and encouraging the person to try an elimination diet.

Below are the answers to some commonly asked questions about gluten intolerance testing.

What is the difference between celiac disease and gluten intolerance?

A food intolerance, such as gluten intolerance, occurs when the body finds it difficult to digest certain foods. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation in the gut.

People with either condition may see their symptoms improve with a gluten-free diet.

Can I test negative for celiac disease and still have gluten intolerance?

Research shows that people who have symptoms of gluten intolerance do not always have celiac disease.

However, if a person does have symptoms of gluten intolerance, a healthcare professional may recommend testing for celiac disease.

Can a general practitioner test for gluten intolerance?

Healthcare professionals may order tests to screen for celiac disease. They may also take a person’s medical history and recommend an elimination diet to diagnose gluten intolerance.

The cause of gluten sensitivity can be unclear. It may result from celiac disease, low quality wheat, or a combination of factors.

At-home tests may help a person check for the presence of celiac disease, but they cannot check for non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

A person might consider contacting a doctor about their symptoms and the results of any home tests. Only a doctor can diagnose celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and other gastrointestinal conditions.