From what I understand, it's not going to test for gluten sensitivity. If you have access to the book Primal Body, Primal Mind, the author goes into detail about gluten sensitivity/celiac and testing. She basically says she's never seen a false positive, but false negatives are a dime a dozen.

Anyway, you definitely need to eat wheat before your test, but I'm not sure how much or for how long. A google search might help you with that.

Have you noticed a difference off gluten? If so, what is the purpose of the test?

Some people's antibody levels will fall quite quickly. Conventional doctors will recommend that you eat gluten at every meal for a period of weeks or months to try to kick up the antibodies.

Most alternative docs I know don't recommend a gluten challenge especially if you know you don't tolerate the stuff. Getting over a gluten challenge can be difficult.

The Gluten File has a whole section about the ins and outs of getting tested. http://sites.google.com/site/jccglutenfree/

Mainstream medicine will tell you there is no test for gluten sensitivity. There is only a test for celiac disease. The celiac centers are working to bring out their own tests for sensitivity. But there are sensitivity tests one can order online or through alternative/complementary docs & MD's.

http://www.enterolab.com/ uses stool testing. The contention is that antibodies to gluten first form in the gut. You do not have to be eating gluten to use this test. This is the one I used 8 years ago to confirm my sensitivity to gluten.

http://www.cyrexlabs.com/ is a new lab and uses a blood draw for all but one test. Go to http://www.thedr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=9 for an explanation of these tests by Cyrex.

I just got my results back from the celiac panel from my endocrinologist and here's the scoop I got. Yes, you should eat gluten before the test but I was told that the "ideal" amount of gluten to test accurately would be about 3 weeks+ of eating 4 slices of bread a day. I laughed and said that was not happening so I tested 2 hours after eating Dreamfields pasta (I had it in the house and wanted to get rid of it, so what better time than this?) My results were negative for celiac and my endocrinologist felt that it's better to just continue to stay away from it as much as possible as I had been and leave it at that especially since the blood test is nowhere near as accurate as the biopsy.

What's the purpose in a positive Celiac diagnosis? A tax deduction. Google it.

If you are going to take the test (and aren't yet off gluten) just make sure you don't cut it out of your diet until after. It is a blood test and I think you are supposed to have had a week of regular eating (aka gluten containing) beforehand. As others have mentioned the test isn't the best indicator for how your body tolerates gluten and it certainly doesn't mean not getting the "go-ahead" to eat gluten is the best thing for health. BUT one thing I would say is having a positive diagnosis for coeliac disease makes it far easier to deal with pushy peers in the realm of food and meals. CW will accept it when the doctor recommends one avoid wheat/gluten/etc. Just my two cents - hope it helps.

I agree with Anne! How are you off the stuff?

My son is SO much better off Gluten, he is really calm, doesn't hit [as much, he is only two ;)], has normal poops, and "eczema" is considerably better and goes away. If you feel better off the stuff, I don't see the purpose of the test, poisoning yourself [if you are GS or Celiac] for it to possibly come back false. All they are going to have you do if it is positive is change your diet lol, or make you get a intestine biopsy. Oh and for more information on the test, go here

that is a list from the celiac disease foundation of possible tests they may perform. Good luck!