‘Game-changer’ new blood test to detect prevalent autoimmune disease without nightmare side effects
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New test for coeliac disease could increase diagnosis rates
- A new blood test for gluten-specific T cells can detect coeliac disease even without gluten consumption, according to research published in Gastroenterology.
- The new blood test could increase diagnosis rates, identify those at risk of severe reactions, and detect silent coeliac disease.
- The test measures the immune marker interleukin 2 (IL-2), which spikes in the bloodstream of people with coeliac disease after gluten consumption.
- The study showed the test could detect coeliac disease with up to 90 per cent sensitivity and 97 per cent specificity, even in patients on a gluten-free diet.
- Researchers are collaborating with Novoviah Pharmaceuticals to confirm the test’s accuracy across diverse populations and gather real-world data, potentially leading to faster and safer diagnoses.