Coeliac Disease Test

A genetic test for the HLA-DQ risk variant associated with coeliac disease. A negative result effectively rules out coeliac disease with high confidence, while a positive result indicates genetic susceptibility that may warrant further investigation. Results in 7 days.

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten in genetically susceptible individuals, affecting approximately 1 in 100 people in the UK — though many remain undiagnosed. The condition causes damage to the small intestinal lining, leading to malabsorption of nutrients, and can present with a wide range of symptoms beyond the classically recognised digestive complaints: iron deficiency, osteoporosis, fatigue, neurological symptoms, and skin conditions. Virtually all coeliac disease patients carry the HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 genetic variants. The key clinical value of this test lies in its negative predictive power: if neither variant is present, coeliac disease can be ruled out with very high confidence, potentially saving years of dietary restriction and further testing. However, approximately 30 to 40 per cent of the general population carry these variants without ever developing coeliac disease, so a positive result indicates susceptibility rather than diagnosis. This genetic test requires only a standard venous blood draw and can be taken regardless of current dietary gluten intake — unlike serological coeliac tests (such as tTg-IgA), which require the patient to be actively consuming gluten for accurate results. At 108 pounds, it is a practical first-line investigation for anyone with a family history of coeliac disease or unexplained symptoms that could be gluten-related.