New Blood Test Offers Hope for Celiac Disease Diagnosis

For those potentially suffering from celiac disease, the current diagnostic approach presents a hurdle: it mandates consuming gluten for accurate testing. However, a groundbreaking blood test developed in Australia promises a more accessible and less distressing diagnostic path.

Revolutionary Blood Test Unveiled

Researchers have developed a new blood test that could change how celiac disease is diagnosed. This test accurately detects the condition with high precision, even when individuals are not consuming gluten. This is a simple and accurate test that can provide a diagnosis within a very short time frame, without the need for patients to continue eating gluten and feeling sick, or to wait months for a gastroscopy, said Olivia Moscatelli, PhD candidate at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and University of Melbourne.

How the Test Works

The test measures interleukin-2 (IL-2) release in whole blood. This helps detect gluten-specific T cells and can aid in diagnosing celiac disease. Blood samples are mixed with gluten in a test tube. The team analyzed blood samples from 181 volunteers, including those with and without celiac disease.

“Current diagnostic practice involves a blood-based serology test followed by a confirmatory gastroscopy if positive. Both tests require the patient to eat gluten daily for 6-12 weeks prior for accurate results. We envision the new blood test (IL-2 whole blood assay) will replace the invasive gastroscopy as the confirmatory test following positive serology,”

—Moscatelli

Potential for Change

The new test could replace the need for invasive gastroscopies in confirming a diagnosis. The strength of the IL-2 signal correlates with symptom severity, potentially allowing doctors to anticipate how a patient might react to gluten without them having to consume it. Currently, about 83% of people with celiac disease remain undiagnosed, according to Beyond Celiac (Source 2024).

Expert Perspective

The new diagnostic approach is seen as welcome, potentially changing practice. Christopher Cao, director of the Celiac Disease Program at Mount Sinai Health System, noted that a gluten challenge can be difficult for patients. The new test could improve the ability to accurately diagnose celiac disease, especially in those already on a gluten-free diet.

Further research will explore the test’s generalizability across diverse patient groups and the role the new assay may play in overall celiac disease testing.