Gluten Allergy testing and diagnosis
The general gluten antibody test conducted by most laboratories, test only a small portion of the gluten protein called alpha-gliadin. A negative test is therefore not an indication that you do not have a gluten allergy. An individual can have an immune reaction to any part of the gluten protein, which is a very large protein and so many types of antibodies to gluten exist. Tests are available for measuring antibodies to some of the segments of the gluten molecule including omega-gliadin, gamma-gliadin, wheat germ agglutinin, and deamidated gliadin. A gluten assessment panel called the Wheat/Gluten Protein Sensitivity and Autoimmunity test is carried out by Cyrex Laboratory in Phoenix, Arizona. The panel also provides testing for trans glutaminase antibodies, the marker for autoimmunity against intestinal tissue. This marker strongly suggests celiac disease or at least an autoimmune reaction in the small intestine in response to gluten.
A negative test does not exclude gluten allergy, as tests are still not available to test most of the different types of antibodies to different segments of gluten. If your immune system is depressed and exhausted, you may not make enough antibodies to register positive on a lab panel, even though an immune reaction is taking place. In this instance, restoring immune health will often then produce a positive antibody response to gluten on a lab test.
The fastest, cheapest and usually the most accurate assessment is by consulting a competent iridologist who can within a few minutes tell you if you have a gluten allergy. If you do not have access to a good iridologist and you suspect you may have a gluten allergy, total abstinence from gluten for 3 months should bring about an improvement in your symptoms. If your symptoms improve you are then sure you have a gluten allergy and no further testing is required.
The general gluten antibody test conducted by most laboratories, test only a small portion of the gluten protein called alpha-gliadin. A negative test is therefore not an indication that you do not have a gluten allergy. An individual can have an immune reaction to any part of the gluten protein, which is a very large protein and so many types of antibodies to gluten exist. Tests are available for measuring antibodies to some of the segments of the gluten molecule including omega-gliadin, gamma-gliadin, wheat germ agglutinin, and deamidated gliadin. A gluten assessment panel called the Wheat/Gluten Protein Sensitivity and Autoimmunity test is carried out by Cyrex Laboratory in Phoenix, Arizona. The panel also provides testing for trans glutaminase antibodies, the marker for autoimmunity against intestinal tissue. This marker strongly suggests celiac disease or at least an autoimmune reaction in the small intestine in response to gluten.
A negative test does not exclude gluten allergy, as tests are still not available to test most of the different types of antibodies to different segments of gluten. If your immune system is depressed and exhausted, you may not make enough antibodies to register positive on a lab panel, even though an immune reaction is taking place. In this instance, restoring immune health will often then produce a positive antibody response to gluten on a lab test.
The fastest, cheapest and usually the most accurate assessment is by consulting a competent iridologist who can within a few minutes tell you if you have a gluten allergy. If you do not have access to a good iridologist and you suspect you may have a gluten allergy, total abstinence from gluten for 3 months should bring about an improvement in your symptoms. If your symptoms improve you are then sure you have a gluten allergy and no further testing is required.
