Celiac disease tests can help determine celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks itself with its own antibodies. With celiac, the ingestion of gluten (a protein found in wheat and barley) triggers an immune response which means that your own immune system attacks your small intestine. These tests check for certain antibodies (transglutaminase IgA and others) that your immune system would create if it were hypersensitive to gluten. For accurate results, your diet should include gluten at the time of testing.
You might consider testing when experiencing the following:
Digestive problems including weight loss, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea or foul-smelling stool
Unexplained rash, joint symptoms, or anemia