Tissue Transglutaminase Antibody IgG Test

The tissue transglutaminase IgG or IgA test helps the doctor to diagnose certain autoimmune conditions, particularly the celiac disease. If you are a victim of the celiac disease, then gluten (known as a protein content) acts as a foreign invader and attacks the immune system. This test also helps the doctor to evaluate the effect of gluten-free diet.

The following are the conditions that require tissue transglutaminase test if: You have symptoms that have celiac disease such as anemia, weight loss, pain in the abdomen, and diarrhea. An infant does not show improvement in the growth rate or chronically irritable.

For the tissue transglutaminase IgG test, the doctor may recommend you to have diet that contains protein. To provide a better sample quality, you may also have to continue the diet for some period, even for few weeks. In rare scenarios, the test needs to be continued with an intestinal biopsy. If you are monitoring the gluten level, there is no special requirements needed.

As mentioned earlier, this test provides the availability of the gluten in the body. If the test reports indicate intermediate or positive, then the test is further continued by an intestinal biopsy. Biopsy is the process to remove some fluid or tissue. If you are being diagnosed with celiac disease and eliminating the gluten, then the autoantibody levels should decrease. If the autoantibody level does not decrease and the symptoms for celiac disease persists, then there may be a chance for the availability of hidden gluten contents or a chance for the availability of rare form of celiac disease. If you have not consumed the diet added with gluten before providing the sample, then the test results might be negative.

After you visit the lab, the lab technician cleans your skin with a cotton or an alcohol pad. For safety purpose, an unused syringe and needle is recommended for collecting blood sample. Make sure you check if the lab technician unpacks the new syringe and needle. The blood is then taken from the needle on the skin that is cleaned. The blood sample is stored in a container and you name is marked on the container. For Biopsy, the specimen is collected either by cutting or through a needle. The sample is then used for testing. You can collect the report from the lab and proceed with the report for further consultation from the doctor.