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How Long Do I Have To Gluten-Load Before A Test?


ladolcevita

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ladolcevita Newbie

How long do I have to be eating gluten before I can go in for a blood test for celiac?


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kareng Grand Master

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"What is a gluten challenge?

A gluten challenge is the period of time when gluten is added back into a person’s diet to assist in the diagnosis of celiac disease. Antibodies take time to build into the blood stream before they can be detected through blood analysis. For a gluten challenge we recommend eating 1/2 slice of bread or a cracker each day for the duration of the challenge.

  • Prior to blood testing we recommend 12 weeks of eating gluten.
  • Prior to an endoscopic biopsy we recommend 2 weeks of eating gluten.

In the case of a severe reaction to gluten, a medical professional may opt to shorten the 12-week challenge and move immediately to an endoscopic biopsy."

ladolcevita Newbie

Open Original Shared Link

 

 

"What is a gluten challenge?

A gluten challenge is the period of time when gluten is added back into a person’s diet to assist in the diagnosis of celiac disease. Antibodies take time to build into the blood stream before they can be detected through blood analysis. For a gluten challenge we recommend eating 1/2 slice of bread or a cracker each day for the duration of the challenge.

  • Prior to blood testing we recommend 12 weeks of eating gluten.
  • Prior to an endoscopic biopsy we recommend 2 weeks of eating gluten.

In the case of a severe reaction to gluten, a medical professional may opt to shorten the 12-week challenge and move immediately to an endoscopic biopsy."

I've been eating gluten for pretty much my entire life except for these past 2 weeks which I've decided to go glutenfree to potentially help another autoimmune disease I have. But now I'm curious as to whether I really have Celiac so I'm thinking to go in for a blood test. Do I have to continue eating gluten for the next 12 weeks, or it is okay to just go in now since I've only been gluten free for a short amount of time? 

kareng Grand Master

I've been eating gluten for pretty much my entire life except for these past 2 weeks which I've decided to go glutenfree to potentially help another autoimmune disease I have. But now I'm curious as to whether I really have Celiac so I'm thinking to go in for a blood test. Do I have to continue eating gluten for the next 12 weeks, or it is okay to just go in now since I've only been gluten free for a short amount of time? 

 

 

No one can really say.  Lots of people still have high antibodies after a few months gluten-free.  Its hard to know how your body is reacting.

 

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moosemalibu Collaborator

I would continue to eat it and get blood tested (as already described by Karen) to be sure. If the test were negative would you always wonder if it was a false negative? I would... just a thought.

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