I already stopped gluten. Now what?

Talk to the physician about a gluten challenge before testing. Do not test in a gluten-free state and treat the result as meaningful.

Is a biopsy always needed?

In most adults, ACG recommends confirmation by biopsy. Some pediatric pathways differ.

What is non-celiac gluten sensitivity?

A distinct entity without the autoimmune damage. It is a diagnosis of exclusion — which requires excluding celiac properly.

Could my symptoms be a parasite instead?

Giardia mimics celiac closely. The molecular panel checks — see this.

Why Must You Keep Eating Gluten Before a Celiac Test?

Medically reviewed by our MD Laboratory Director (a role required by CLIA; the director's name is on file in the CMS CLIA database, #45D2048957, and can be verified independently) · Editorial policy

Molecular fluorescence imaging — Auspicious Laboratory, Houston

Do not go gluten-free before testing. It invalidates the result.CLIA #45D2048957 · CAP #8722734 · Same-day results · Walk-ins welcome

Because celiac serology measures your immune response to gluten. Remove gluten and the antibodies fall — which produces a false negative and, worse, leaves you gluten-free for life without ever knowing whether you actually have celiac disease. ACG guidance is explicit: testing should be performed while gluten is still in the diet.

Not sure what you need? Text us and we will set it up.
📱 Text (713) 832-8892 📞 Call (713) 266-0808

3707 Westcenter Dr Suite 100, Houston, TX 77042 · Walk-ins welcome

The sequence that works

Step	Detail
1. Keep eating gluten	Do not start a gluten-free diet before testing
2. Serology	tTG-IgA with total IgA — IgA deficiency causes false negatives
3. Confirmation	Duodenal biopsy in most adults, per ACG
4. Then, if confirmed	Lifelong gluten-free diet with dietitian support

If you have already gone gluten-free, tell the physician. Testing may require a supervised gluten challenge — unpleasant, but better than a lifelong diagnosis nobody ever verified.

Why it matters beyond diet

Untreated celiac disease is associated with malabsorption, anemia, osteoporosis and other complications. "I feel better without bread" is not the same as a diagnosis, and it does not tell you whether your intestine is being damaged.

We name drugs, never doses. Treatment statements follow ACG, AGA, IDSA and CDC guidance; dose and duration are a physician's decision.

Same day, start to finish. Sample by 1:00 PM → results at 4:30 PM → if treatment is clinically appropriate, a licensed physician in our partner network sees you between 4:30 and 6:00 PM, a few minutes away. That window is reserved for patients tested here, and your slot is held the moment we take your sample — the slot is held, not hunted. On your own, a same-day appointment is nearly impossible; at an urgent care, you wait in the queue. STAT: ~2 hours, sample in by 3:00 PM.

FAQ

I already stopped gluten. Now what?: Talk to the physician about a gluten challenge before testing. Do not test in a gluten-free state and treat the result as meaningful.
Is a biopsy always needed?: In most adults, ACG recommends confirmation by biopsy. Some pediatric pathways differ.
What is non-celiac gluten sensitivity?: A distinct entity without the autoimmune damage. It is a diagnosis of exclusion — which requires excluding celiac properly.
Could my symptoms be a parasite instead?: Giardia mimics celiac closely. The molecular panel checks — see this.

Not sure what you need? Text us and we will set it up.
📱 Text (713) 832-8892 📞 Call (713) 266-0808

3707 Westcenter Dr Suite 100, Houston, TX 77042 · Walk-ins welcome

References

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