Diagnosis in adults
Coeliac disease in adults is traditionally diagnosed by serological testing and endoscopic intestinal biopsy, but in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, interim guidelines for a no-biopsy diagnosis in adults have been published by the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG). Since then, there has been variable ongoing uptake of this approach. A full updated BSG guideline, to include a no biopsy strategy, is expected in late 2025.
Serological tests
When requesting tests for adults, NICE recommends:
- Test for total immunoglobin A (IgA) and IgA tTGA as a first choice test.
- Use IgA endomysial antibodies (EMA) if IgA tTG is weakly positive.
- Consider using IgG EMA, IgG deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) or IgG tTG in cases of IgA deficiency.
Adults with a positive blood test and those with negative antibodies but where coeliac disease is suspected should be referred to a gastroenterologist, even if they may be eligible for a no-biopsy diagnosis.
IgA deficiency
Total IgA should be measured when testing for coeliac disease. This is because IgA deficiency is more common in people with coeliac disease than the general population. People with IgA deficiency will have a false negative serological result when tested for IgA antibody, which may lead to a missed diagnosis of coeliac disease.
Advice before testing
It is important to inform people undergoing testing for coeliac disease that to get accurate test results, they should continue to eat a gluten containing diet before and during the diagnosis process. NICE recommends including gluten in more than one meal a day for at least six weeks before testing.
A gluten free diet should not be initiated until diagnosis is confirmed by a specialist, even if the results of a serological test are positive.
If people who have restricted their gluten intake or excluded gluten from their diet are unable to reintroduce gluten into their diet before testing, refer the patient to a gastroenterologist and explain that it may be difficult to confirm their diagnosis.