What it measures
IgA antibodies against the endomysium, the thin layer of tissue around smooth muscle fibres. Most people with coeliac disease who eat gluten have them. The lab looks for them under a microscope, on a slide of tissue.
Why people test it
- Measured to check for coeliac disease, often to confirm a positive tTG-IgA result.
- Investigating symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea, weight loss or tiredness.
- Checking for coeliac disease in people with iron deficiency anaemia or a family history of it.
Typical range
There is no numeric range. The result is reported as positive or negative, and some labs add a titre showing how far the sample could be diluted and still test positive. The report shows how that lab reports it.
Finger-prick or vein?
A finger-prick sample is usually fine for an antibody test like this, and some providers offer a home kit. Others take blood from a vein, at a clinic or with a visiting nurse.
Avoiding gluten before the test can give an inaccurate result, as these antibodies are made in response to gluten in the diet.