Celiac disease, sometimes called celiac sprue, is a type of autoimmune disorder that occurs in the small intestine. It is most likely to occur in people with genetic disposition for it and prevents sufferers from correctly digesting the gluten in wheat and related grains. The symptoms and severity of this problem can vary significantly, making it very difficult to identify the disease in some people.

This digestive problem can lead to intestinal discomfort, fatigue and a wide range of nutritional deficiencies, resulting in potential severe physical and mental health problems. While this disease is often self-diagnosed or diagnosed by a physician based on the patient's symptoms, a truly accurate diagnosis requires an antibody screening.

Antibody screening for celiac disease is a useful tool for people who suffer from the problem but show no obvious symptoms, something which is common in people with close relatives who are celiac sufferers. The primary antibody screening used by most laboratories is tissue transglutaminase antibody, or tTG, but some doctors prefer an endomysial antibody (EMA) or anti-gliadin antibody (AGA) test instead. 

All tests require patients to consume gluten over a specific time period before having their blood drawn. In many cases, an elimination diet, where gluten is removed completely from the diet, then selectively introduced back into it, is required to isolate the symptoms before an antibody screening can be performed.