New Blood Test Can Diagnose Celiac Disease Without Gluten Consumption, Study Finds

A groundbreaking Australian study has revealed a new blood test that could diagnose celiac disease accurately without requiring gluten consumption, potentially revolutionizing how this autoimmune condition is detected.

Published in the journal Gastroenterology, the research shows that a T-cell blood test specific to gluten exposure can identify celiac disease with up to 97% accuracy, even in individuals who follow a strict gluten-free diet.

Celiac Disease: A Widespread but Underdiagnosed Condition

Approximately 1% of the population in Western countries suffers from celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder where the ingestion of gluten triggers an inflammatory response in the small intestine.

Current diagnostic methods—including blood antibody tests and intestinal biopsies—require patients to consume gluten for several weeks, often resulting in uncomfortable symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Due to these side effects, many people avoid testing, leading to underdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. Studies suggest that over half of celiac cases remain undiagnosed.

Breakthrough Testing Method: IL-2 Blood Marker

The study was led by Professor Jason Tye-Din, head of the Celiac Research Laboratory at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) in Melbourne. Researchers investigated the use of interleukin-2 (IL-2) as an immune biomarker to detect gluten sensitivity.

In collaboration with Novoviah Pharmaceuticals, scientists developed a diagnostic system where blood samples are exposed to gluten in vitro. The immune response is then measured via IL-2 levels, which spike shortly after gluten exposure in individuals with celiac disease.

Clinical Study: High Accuracy in Diagnosing Celiac Without Gluten Ingestion

The clinical trial involved 181 participants aged between 18 and 75:

75 had diagnosed celiac disease and had been on a gluten-free diet for at least a year.

13 had active, untreated celiac disease.

32 had non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

61 participants were healthy controls.

The new diagnostic test achieved:

90% sensitivity (correctly identifying those with the disease)

97% specificity (correctly ruling out those without the disease)

Lead researcher Olivia Muscatelli, herself diagnosed with celiac disease at 18, highlighted the potential for this test to reduce the burden of gluten challenges currently needed for diagnosis.

Industry and Expert Reactions

Professor Tye-Din emphasized the transformative nature of the test, calling it a solution to "one of the biggest barriers in current diagnostic practices."

Novoviah Pharmaceuticals intends to bring the test to clinical settings within two years, although the company did not influence the study's design or interpretation.

Despite the promising results, the researchers acknowledged limitations such as the single-center trial and the relatively small subgroups involved. The test was not assessed in children or immunosuppressed patients.

Medical Community Response

Professor Peter Gibson from Monash University praised the study’s methodology, stating that the results are “very impressive” and the test itself is “technically simple,” making it suitable for widespread clinical use.

However, Associate Professor Vincent Ho, a gastroenterologist at Western Sydney University, urged caution, noting that the test's cost-effectiveness and accuracy across different labs still need validation.

Currently, the anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody test remains the gold standard, with 98% sensitivity and specificity, but it still requires gluten intake.

Professor Ho noted that just 10 grams of gluten—equal to about four slices of bread—can trigger a detectable immune response in blood samples, supporting the theoretical foundation of the new test.

Source: The Guardian