Does home testing work?

[Lawster]

Hi everyone! 
I’m new here and have a question around home testing. I have so many symptoms of celiacs so I got a cheap home test kit on Amazon. It’s showing negative but my symptoms are really bad. Constant exhaustion, look pregnant, feelings of hypoglycaemia, even though I’m not diabetic. I’ve also been diagnosed with Hashimotos. So my question is, are home tests reliable and I don’t have celiacs at all, or should I ask my doctor to test. Many thanks

[plumbago]

Help us know more about your at home test kit with either a link or in depth description. Personally, I'd want a lab test. To buy on your own they are at least $150, maybe more. But if you have insurance and your doctor orders it, obviously it would be free. Depending where you are, you might be able to have a case manager get you signed up for a cheap or no-cost insurance plan, depending also on other factors like income.

[Lawster]

Thanks Plumbago. I’m actually in the uk so not worried about insurance. I just wanted an indication without having to have a biopsy done, really.  This is the test I used. I’m suspicious of it because it was so cheap!  https://www.amazon.co.uk/SELFCheck-Coeliac-Test/dp/B005UXZAX4/

[plumbago]

Hi again, the source of the blood is different in your case with that point of care test (capillary vs venous), but I'm not sure that makes that much of a difference. I think what you need to find out is the specificity and sensitivity of that brand of test. I got on the actual test site, not just the amazon site (which is loaded with messages for me to accept cookies and whatnot), but could not find anything useful. You may try to contact them to ask about it. Or look at reviews. ? Just a suggestion.

As their site states, "the SELFCheck Gluten Sensitivity self-test is an easy to use means of detecting specific IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) in the blood - a proven biomarker for coeliac disease." For background, the TTG deamidates gliadin (a broken-down component of gluten). In reaction to the presence of TTG, the antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA) is produced. Raised IgA antibodies indicate short-term immune response, indicating ingestion of gluten 2-4 weeks preceding the test.

In other words, you will also want to have measured tTG-IgG, which, when positive, indicates longer term exposure.

There are actually other tests, as well. With Celiac, I didn't fool around - I wanted to know for sure before I gave up pizza, beer and cake, and got the full panel.

Edited January 5, 2024 by plumbago

[trents]

Lawster, there is also the possibility you may have NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity) which shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease and is 10x more common but for which there is not yet a test. Celiac disease must first be ruled out.

[Lawster]

Brilliant, thanks both of you. That’s really useful