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"I am already on a gluten-free diet. Can I still have a blood test? Do I need to go back onto gluten to get my blood tests?" The blood tests for gluten take about 6 months or more to change once you go gluten-free. So if you have only been gluten-free for a few weeks or months, then it is okay to get your blood tests. You do not have to go back and eat more gluten!
But make sure that you get all of the blood tests that you need - see the blood tests page for the details. These blood tests measure the antibodies to the gluten in your diet, and to any gut damage in your body. These antibodies are being produced by your body all of the time. These antibodies are made by your immune cells. It takes months for them to stop producing these antibodies. So the blood work can be done up to 6 or even 12 months after you go gluten free. So there is no need to go back onto gluten for the blood tests, as long as it has only been a few months. BUT this does not hold true for the small bowel (gut) biopsy done by endoscopy. That test needs you to be on gluten at the time of testing (see some of the other answers) If off gluten for years: If you have been gluten free for several years, then your gluten antibodies (Gliadin antibodies) and tissues damage antibodies (tTG and EMA) will be at normal levels. |
