Diagnosing Celiac Disease

There are several methods of diagnosing Celiac Disease.

The original and most authoritative method is by small intestine biopsy. This is how the disease was first identified and "cured" in a clinical sense. The intestines contain finger-like attachments called villae that absorb the particles of food and moisture as they pass through the system. When the body is attacking wheat protein here in the intestines, these villae shrink and eventually flatten - depending on the severity of the reaction, the patient's diet, and how long ago the condition was triggered.

Once a patient stops eating wheat, rye, and barley, (or anything with trace gluten contamination) the villae will typically heal quickly. Within a few weeks or months, an individual with Celiac intolerance will no longer qualify for the diagnosis because their intestines will look like a normal person's!

Blood tests show the same effect. If someone is currently consuming gluten and currently having a negative reaction, they are thousand times more likely to show antibodies in a blood test. Blood tests produce some false negatives, so they are not as likely to be seen as authoritative.