Researchers in Melbourne have made a significant breakthrough with the development of a new blood test aimed at simplifying the diagnosis of coeliac disease. This condition, which affects over 350,000 Australians, is often underdiagnosed due to the complexity of current testing methods.
Currently, the diagnostic process requires patients to reintroduce gluten into their diet for several weeks, which can lead to uncomfortable and painful symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and nausea. Associate Professor Jason Tye-Din from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) described this approach as “completely counterintuitive,” particularly for those already managing their symptoms with a gluten-free diet.
The innovative blood test developed by WEHI offers a more humane alternative. It involves mixing a patient’s blood sample with gluten fragments and incubating the solution for a day. If a specific immune marker is detected, it indicates the presence of coeliac disease. Tye-Din noted that the level of this marker correlates with the severity of symptoms a patient may experience from gluten, enhancing diagnostic accuracy.
This new testing method has the potential to eliminate the need for invasive procedures, like biopsies, which are often required for confirmation of the diagnosis. Olivia Moscatelli, also from WEHI, emphasised the importance of this development, especially for children, as it could spare them from undergoing uncomfortable gastroscopies.
According to the researchers, this groundbreaking blood test is expected to be available to the public within the next two years, promising a significant improvement in the way coeliac disease is diagnosed and managed in Australia.