What Are the Sensitivity and Specificity of Serologic Tests for Celiac Disease? Do Sensitivity and Specificity Vary in Different Populations?

IVOR D. HILL

Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

GASTROENTEROLOGY 2005;128:S25–S32

DGP information added in 2007

A 2009 report on the International Transglutaminase Autoantibody Workshop for Celiac Disease.

There is no standardization in current tests for celiac panels. This transglutaminase autoantibody workshop allowed for larger-scale international participation for the purposes of improving and eventually standardizing the TGAA assay with subsequent workshops.

Measurement of transglutaminase autoantibodies (TGAA) is considered to be the most efficient single serologic test for celiac disease (CD) by the American Gastroenterological Association Institute. A total of 20 laboratories and total of 150 serum samples were distributed to each laboratory. Each laboratory received an equal aliquot that was coded and blinded, composed of 100 healthy control sera and 50 CD sera. Laboratory sensitivity reports ranged from 69% to 93% and specificity ranged from 96% to 100%.

Am J Gastroenterol. 2009 Jan;104(1):154-63.

Li M, Yu L, Tiberti C, Bonamico M, Taki I, Miao D, Murray JA, Rewers MJ, Hoffenberg EJ, Agardh D, Mueller P, Stern M, Bonifacio E, Liu E.

Marsh Standard

Progression of intestinal injury in untreated celiac disease.

Marsh, MN, ed. (2000) Celiac Disease: Methods and Protocols.
Humana Press Inc., p. 4.