Genetic Testing
Find out if gluten is impacting your health with genetic testing and serologic evaluation of potential gluten intolerance.
Celiac disease, IBS, and Crohn’s disease are affecting a growing portion of the population. With genetic, antibody, or genetic + antibody testing options, our CICA testing option will help you find out if you have markers that indicate probable celiac or Crohn’s. Genetic and serology markers assessed include:
Genetic markers for celiac disease:
Genetic markers for Crohn’s disease:
Serology markers
About the CICA Test
Celiac disease is characterized by a complete intolerance with gluten while Crohn’s is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that can be triggered by gluten, or other foods or environmental situations, including stress. Our Celiac, IBS, and Crohn’s Array (CICA) evaluates your genetic risk for celiac disease and checks for genetic markers associated with Crohn’s disease. The CICA is designed to provide an accurate evaluation of GI tract function by gathering information from various pathways. There are three testing options for this array, genetic, antibody, or genetic and antibody combined.
Genetic Testing:
More than 95% of patients with celiac disease possess HLA-DQ2.5 and/or HLA-DQ8 genotype. More than 90% of those with celiac have the DQ2.5 genotype. Absent these markers, development of celiac disease is highly unlikely. Crohn’s disease is triggered by a variety of environmental and genetic factors.
Genetic markers tested for include: NOD2/CARD15 and the T300A mutation of the ATG16 gene.
Antibody (Serologic) Testing:
Blood is tested for the presence of four types of antibodies.
Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibody: In active celiac disease, damaged cells produce tTG. The presence of antibodies against tTG—IgA and IgG antibodies—are indicative of active disease. A certain percentage of patients with celiac disease may be seronegative, if tTG antibodies are negative but celiac is suspected, then additional markers become more relevant.
Deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) antibody: Deamidated gliadin (a protein in gluten) can bind with tTG and become immunogenic. Therefore, detecting the presence of elevated IgA and/or IgG antibodies against DGP is an additional indicator of an active celiac disease process.
Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae Antibody (ASCA): ASCA is an indicator for the presence of Crohn’s disease. The presence of ASCA may also reflect increased intestinal inflammation and permeability, including that associated with active celiac disease.
Total Serum IgA: It is common for celiac disease patients to be IgA deficient. It is the most common immunologic deficiency and may be the single largest contributor to false-negative results in biopsy-confirmed celiac disease patients. When IgA levels are low or deficient, it is important to check IgG levels for both tTG and DGP (included in this array).
This array is best for:
Optionally, it can be combined with the Alcat Test to evaluate innate immune cell responses to as many as 400 other foods (including gluten, gliadin, casein and whey) and substances for the most comprehensive assessment.
Genetic Testing
Find out if gluten is impacting your health with genetic testing and serologic evaluation of potential gluten intolerance.
No. Fasting is not required. However, we recommend NOT taking any medications or supplements at least 4 hours prior to the blood draw.
No, You may test directly through our website or one of our program advisors at Previmedica. We do require a blood draw to be provided by a medical professional that we can assist in arranging. You may also take part in our additional support programs.
The genetic component of CICA is not necessary to test more than once.
For those with a diagnosis of celiac disease using this test to monitor and assess impact of the gluten-free lifestyle on tTg and DGP antibodies, continue to follow the gluten-free lifestyle. The strictness of the gluten-free lifestyle to prevent celiac disease activity may not be equal for all individuals with the disease. Reports range from a few months to a year or more for the antibody level to go from positive to negative. For those with a diagnosis of celiac disease, please consult your physician to determine if this test is appropriate for you.
CICA results are available online within 7-10 business days after the specimen is received in the laboratory.
You will be notified via email when your specimen arrives at the laboratory with notification of when to expect your results. Once your results are ready, they will be uploaded to our secure portal and you will receive an email notification indicating your results are ready for you to view. Please follow the instructions to start your account on the PreviMedica portal.
No, insurance plans do not reimburse for this test, currently. However, you may be able to use your FSA or HSA to pay for the test.
You can expect your test kit to arrive in 3-5 business days, depending on where you reside.
With every test offered by Cell Science Systems, you will be eligible to receive a complimentary 30-minute phone or video consultation with a member of our support team to discuss test results. To request an appointment for a complimentary session, please complete this form: https://cellsciencesystems.com/resultsreview
For the genetic component only: Gluten consumption prior to testing would not impact the results. Continue with your current eating pattern. No change in gluten consumption is necessary.
For serology markers (antibody titers): Because antibody titers are exposure related, purposeful avoidance of gluten can cause a decrease of serological results. Therefore, the patient’s exposure to gluten-containing grains should be considered when interpreting tTg and DGP serology results.
Our recommendations:
For those without a current diagnosis of celiac disease or wheat allergy, who have been avoiding gluten, a consumption of gluten (≥ 1 ½ slices of wheat bread or equivalent daily) for a minimum of the first two weeks of the last four weeks prior to testing is recommended.
Note:
Of the four celiac disease antibodies that are measured within the CICA, tTg-IgA is the most highly studied and most of our knowledge of the temporal relationship between the presence of antibody and the exposure to gluten come from that antibody. It is likely that the other antibodies have a similar pattern, but we cannot be certain.
Disclaimer: It is important to note that food sensitivity testing is distinct from food allergy testing. While both tests share the objective of identifying potential food reactions, they vary in their diagnostic methodology and the types of reactions they detect. Food allergy testing commonly focuses on immediate, life-threatening reactions to foods, while food sensitivity testing aims to detect delayed responses that can be less severe but still affect one's health. Therefore, we strongly advise consulting with a qualified healthcare professional to determine which testing approach is most suitable for your particular situation.
