A gluten home-based gluten sensitivity test test is one that measures how your body reacts to gluten. Unlike celiac disease, which can only be diagnosed through blood tests, genetic testing and endoscopy, non-celiac gluten sensitivity (also called wheat intolerance or non-celiac gluten syndrome) can have many symptoms, including abdominal pain and bloating, bowel pattern changes, fatigue and brain fog. There is no reliable way to diagnose it, and doctors usually make a diagnosis by ruling out other causes through a history of your symptoms and a trial of a gluten-free diet.
Home-based tests are available for detecting sensitivity to gluten and other food intolerances, but they have low accuracy and are not covered by health insurance. They also cost between $100 and $400, depending on the kit. For example, EnteroLab’s At-Home Gluten Test costs $269 and EverlyWell’s Comprehensive Food Sensitivity Test costs $299.
To perform these tests, you need to swab the inside of your cheek and send it to the company’s lab. You then receive your results, which you can access online.
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Home-Based Gluten Sensitivity Test: What to Expect
Several home-based food sensitivity tests are available, but they’re not designed to detect celiac disease. Some of them measure the levels of antibodies in your blood, while others measure how your body responds to food. Some of the home-based tests use a hair sample to look for IgG antibodies. Others, such as YorkTest’s Core Test, measure how your body reacts to 300 different foods.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that damages the villi of your small intestine. It can be diagnosed with antibody blood tests, genetic blood tests and an endoscopy, in which the doctor inserts a long tube with a camera into your mouth to view your small intestine and take a biopsy for further testing.