Gliadin Deamidated Antibody (DGP) IgG/IgA Biomarker Testing
It checks IgA and IgG antibodies to deamidated gliadin to assess celiac risk and gluten exposure, with easy ordering and Quest labs via Vitals Vault.
With Vitals Vault, you have access to a comprehensive range of biomarker tests.
This test measures antibodies your immune system can make after exposure to gluten, specifically antibodies to deamidated gliadin peptides (DGP). It is commonly used when you and your clinician are evaluating possible celiac disease or trying to understand whether gluten is triggering immune activity.
Because it includes both IgA and IgG antibody classes, it can be helpful when IgA-based testing might miss a signal (for example, if you have low total IgA). Your result is not a diagnosis by itself, but it can guide what to do next—such as adding companion celiac markers or considering an intestinal biopsy when appropriate.
One important practical note: antibody testing works best when you are currently eating gluten. If you have already removed gluten for weeks to months, the antibodies can fall and your result may look “normal” even if celiac disease is present.
Do I need a Gliadin Deamidated Antibody IgG IgA test?
You might consider DGP IgA/IgG testing if you have symptoms that could fit celiac disease, such as chronic diarrhea or constipation, bloating, unexplained weight loss, iron-deficiency anemia, persistent fatigue, or nutrient deficiencies that do not have a clear cause. Some people have mostly non-digestive clues, including recurrent mouth ulcers, certain rashes, bone loss, headaches, or elevated liver enzymes.
This test is also commonly used when you have a higher pre-test risk, even if symptoms are mild. That includes having a first-degree relative with celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease, or other autoimmune conditions where celiac disease is more common.
DGP IgG can be especially useful when total IgA is low (IgA deficiency), because IgA-based celiac tests can be falsely reassuring in that setting. In children, DGP antibodies may be part of the workup depending on age and clinical context.
Testing supports clinician-directed care. If your result is positive or you are highly suspicious for celiac disease, the next steps usually involve confirmatory testing and a plan you can follow safely, rather than self-diagnosing or starting major diet changes without guidance.
This is a blood immunoassay typically performed in a CLIA-certified laboratory; results should be interpreted with your symptoms, diet (gluten exposure), and companion celiac markers rather than used as a standalone diagnosis.
Lab testing
Order Gliadin Deamidated Antibody IgG/IgA testing and review it with your clinician.
Schedule online, results typically within about a week
Clear reporting and optional clinician context
HSA/FSA eligible where applicable
Get this test with Vitals Vault
Vitals Vault lets you order Gliadin Deamidated Antibody IgG/IgA testing directly, so you can move from “I’m not sure” to a concrete data point that you can review with your clinician. This can be helpful if you are comparing celiac-related tests, planning a structured evaluation, or monitoring antibody trends after a confirmed diagnosis.
After your lab is complete, you can use PocketMD to ask questions that come up in real life: whether your result fits your symptoms, which companion tests are worth adding (like tissue transglutaminase), and when it makes sense to retest. If your result is abnormal, PocketMD can also help you prepare focused questions for your next appointment.
If you are already gluten-free, PocketMD can help you think through whether your testing timing could affect accuracy and what options to discuss with your clinician. The goal is clarity and next steps, not guesswork.
- Order online and test through a national lab network
- PocketMD helps you interpret results in context and plan follow-ups
- Easy reorders to track antibody trends over time
Key benefits of Gliadin Deamidated Antibody IgG IgA testing
- Adds a celiac-related antibody signal that complements tissue transglutaminase (tTG) testing.
- Includes both IgA and IgG to reduce the chance of missing a signal when IgA is low.
- Helps clarify whether gluten exposure is provoking an immune response right now.
- Supports next-step decisions, such as adding total IgA, EMA, or referral for biopsy when appropriate.
- Can be used to monitor antibody trends after diagnosis alongside symptoms and diet adherence.
- Provides a structured way to evaluate persistent GI symptoms and unexplained nutrient deficiencies.
- Gives you a result you can review with PocketMD and your clinician to plan retesting and companion labs.
What is Gliadin Deamidated Antibody IgG IgA?
Gliadin is a component of gluten found in wheat, and similar proteins exist in barley and rye. In some people, gluten exposure triggers an immune reaction that targets the small intestine. During this process, gliadin can be modified (deamidated) by an enzyme called tissue transglutaminase. The immune system may then produce antibodies against these deamidated gliadin peptides (DGP).
This test measures two types of antibodies to DGP: IgA (immunoglobulin A) and IgG (immunoglobulin G). In celiac disease, these antibodies can rise because the immune system is reacting to gluten-related targets. However, a positive result does not automatically mean you have celiac disease, and a negative result does not fully rule it out—especially if you are not eating gluten or if testing is incomplete.
DGP antibodies are often interpreted alongside other celiac markers, most commonly tissue transglutaminase IgA (tTG IgA) and total serum IgA. In some cases, endomysial antibody (EMA IgA) or genetic testing (HLA-DQ2/DQ8) is used to refine the picture.
Your diet at the time of testing matters. If you have significantly reduced gluten, antibody levels may fall, which can make results harder to interpret.
IgA vs IgG: why both are reported
IgA antibodies are a key part of mucosal immunity and are commonly used in celiac screening. If you have IgA deficiency (which is more common in people with celiac disease than in the general population), IgA-based tests can be falsely negative. Measuring IgG DGP provides an additional route to detect immune activity when IgA is not reliable.
What this test is (and is not) looking for
DGP antibodies are associated with celiac disease and gluten-driven immune activity. They are not the same as an immediate-type wheat allergy test (which uses IgE) and they do not diagnose non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Your clinician may use your history, other labs, and sometimes biopsy to determine the cause of symptoms.
What do my Gliadin Deamidated Antibody IgG IgA results mean?
Low (negative) DGP IgA and DGP IgG
A low or negative result means the lab did not detect a significant antibody response to deamidated gliadin at the time of testing. This lowers the likelihood of active celiac-related immune activity, but it does not fully exclude celiac disease. False negatives can happen if you have been gluten-free, if exposure is minimal, or if you are early in the disease process. If suspicion remains high, your clinician may add tTG IgA, total IgA, EMA, or consider other evaluations.
In-range results
Most labs report DGP IgA and IgG as negative/normal when they fall below a cutoff. An in-range result is generally reassuring when you are eating gluten and other celiac markers are also negative. If you still have symptoms, it can be a sign to broaden the workup beyond celiac disease, rather than repeatedly repeating the same antibody test. Your clinician may also interpret “borderline” values differently depending on the lab method and your risk factors.
High (positive) DGP IgA and/or DGP IgG
A high result suggests your immune system is making antibodies to deamidated gliadin, which can occur in celiac disease. The higher the value and the more markers that are positive, the stronger the case for a celiac-focused evaluation. Next steps often include checking tTG IgA and total IgA (if not already done), and discussing whether confirmatory testing such as EMA or an intestinal biopsy is appropriate. Do not start a gluten-free diet solely based on this result if you are still in the diagnostic phase, because removing gluten can make confirmation harder.
Factors that influence DGP antibody results
Gluten intake is the biggest driver: less gluten can lower antibodies and create false reassurance. Age, immune status, and IgA deficiency can shift which antibody class is most informative. Lab-specific cutoffs and assay methods can also affect whether a result is labeled negative, borderline, or positive. Finally, antibody levels can change over time, so timing matters if you are monitoring response to a gluten-free diet after a confirmed diagnosis.
What’s included
- Gliadin (Deamidated) Ab (Iga)
- Gliadin (Deamidated) Ab (Igg)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DGP IgA/IgG a celiac disease test?
It is a celiac-related antibody test that can support a celiac disease evaluation, but it does not diagnose celiac disease by itself. Clinicians usually interpret it alongside tTG IgA, total IgA, symptoms, and sometimes endoscopy with biopsy.
Do I need to be eating gluten for this test to be accurate?
Yes, antibody tests are most informative when you are currently eating gluten. If you have been gluten-free or mostly gluten-free, DGP IgA/IgG can fall and look normal even if celiac disease is present. If you are already avoiding gluten, discuss timing and options with your clinician before testing.
What is the difference between DGP and tTG antibodies?
DGP antibodies target deamidated fragments of gliadin (a gluten protein), while tTG antibodies target tissue transglutaminase, an enzyme involved in the celiac immune process. tTG IgA is often the first-line screening test, and DGP (especially IgG) can add value in certain situations such as IgA deficiency or specific clinical scenarios.
Can a positive DGP result mean something other than celiac disease?
A positive result increases suspicion for celiac-related immune activity, but false positives can occur. That is why confirmatory testing and clinical correlation matter. Your clinician may look for a pattern across multiple markers and may recommend biopsy when appropriate.
Should I go gluten-free if my DGP IgA or IgG is high?
If you are still in the diagnostic phase, do not make major diet changes without a plan, because going gluten-free can make confirmatory testing harder. A common approach is to complete the recommended celiac workup first, then start a gluten-free diet if celiac disease is confirmed or your clinician advises it.
How soon can DGP antibodies change after stopping gluten?
Antibody levels often decline over weeks to months after gluten removal, but the timeline varies by person and by baseline level. If you are monitoring after diagnosis, your clinician may recheck antibodies after several months on a gluten-free diet to assess trends rather than expecting an immediate normalization.
Do I need to fast for a DGP IgA/IgG blood test?
Fasting is not typically required for antibody testing. If you are combining this test with other labs (like lipids or glucose), follow the fasting instructions for the full set of tests you are ordering.