How to Use an At Home Gluten Test Kit

If you have a sensitivity to gluten, you could feel crampy, bloated and gassy after you eat foods with gluten. Symptoms of Celiac Disease, however, could be much more severe. While your symptoms could be caused by other medical conditions or issues like other food allergies, an at home gluten test kit helps you rule out gluten as a primary culprit.

But is an at home gluten test kit reliable? How soon can you expect results?

Using a Gluten Test Kit at Home  

You may wonder if tests at your doctor’s office are the way to go. If you’re already heading into the office for a physical, this could be the best time to request a test to rule out gluten sensitivity. However, if you request tests in the office, it’s best to understand your insurance coverage and the costs associated with those tests.

Also, oftentimes your primary care provider will not believe that the symptoms you are experiencing can be related to gluten sensitivity, therefore not authorizing the testing.  

When you have a high suspicion that gluten is your source of pain, you could also opt to use a gluten test kit at home. These tests are simple, virtually painless and can be done on your time…no appointments needed.

Order your test online and the gluten test kit will arrive at your door and, most importantly, you can rule out all of the potential sources of pain, inflammation, and discomfort.

Will an At Home Gluten Test Kit Indicate if You Need to Eliminate Gluten?

Should you go gluten-free? And is there a free home test kit that indicates that gluten should be eliminated from your diet? Our at home gluten test kit will provide results indicating whether or not your body produces antibodies against gluten.

How you choose to modify your diet according to these results is up to you and your doctor. Some people may eliminate gluten entirely, others may simply limit intake. You should do your own research as there are many gluten-free options available to fit different needs and lifestyles.

If the test shows that you may have Celiac Disease, you may also want to make an appointment to see your doctor. More tests may be warranted and your doctor also may want you to adhere to a diet plan that is best for your condition.

How to Use a Gluten Test Kit

When your test arrives, you can choose when you want to collect your specimen to send in for lab analysis. Gluten test kits require a tiny sample of blood—just a pinprick. The blood is then analyzed for antibodies which could indicate gluten sensitivity or Celiac Disease.

After you collect your sample, mail the specimen back to the lab for analysis (shipping is free!). You will receive the results of your test in two to three days.  

But is an At Home Gluten Test Reliable?

Taking an at home gluten test is simple and provides you with quick results. But how accurate are those results? The results you receive from the test kit won’t just be positive or negative. Instead, the test results may show the level of your sensitivity. You may be at a high-risk for gluten sensitivity or high risk for Celiac Disease; your test could indicate that you’re at a moderate risk for sensitivity or Celiac Disease…or a low risk.

When you receive your results, you can immediately start modifying your diet to see if your symptoms improve.  If you have concerns you’d like to share with your doctors, don’t hesitate to make an appointment and bring the results from your at home test kit.

What Foods Might You Need to Avoid?

Some people have no idea what gluten is…many just understand that it is found in bread and other carbohydrate-rich foods. Gluten refers to the proteins that give dough that stringy stretchy consistency. Gluten is found in a huge list of foods, including:

• Bread
• Pasta
• Cereals
• Soups
• Food coloring (surprising, right?)

Thankfully, many stores now offer gluten-free aisles to make shopping much easier for those who have gluten sensitivity or Celiac Disease. You may also research brands online to find popular products that are gluten-free.

Eating at restaurants can be a struggle for those who have gluten intolerance or Celiac Disease. Again, though, many restaurants now mark entrees as gluten-free or have an entire menu dedicated to gluten-free options.  If you are in need of gluten-free dining choices, check out Find Me Gluten Free, which provides gluten-free recommendations for every city.

If you suspect a gluten intolerance, use an at home gluten test kit to find out if you have a sensitivity or Celiac Disease. Order your Celiac & Gluten Sensitivity Home Test today!

REFERENCES:

1. Jessica R Biesiekierski. (2017). What is gluten? Wiley Online Library.
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4. Ana Diez-Sampedro,¹ Maria Olenick,¹ Tatayana Maltseva,¹ and Monica Flowers. (2019). A Gluten-Free Diet, Not an Appropriate Choice without a Medical Diagnosis. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism.
5. Ivana Caputo,^1,2 Marilena Lepretti,¹ Stefania Martucciello,¹ and Carla Esposito. (2010). Enzymes as Additives or Processing Aids in Food Biotechnology. Enzyme Research.
6. Joseph A Murray, Tureka Watson, Beverlee Clearman, Frank Mitros. (2004). Effect of a gluten-free diet on gastrointestinal symptoms in celiac disease. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.