Deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) antibody test
Quick answer: This blood test looks for antibodies against deamidated gliadin peptides, parts of gluten that the immune system reacts to in coeliac disease. Doctors usually order it to help diagnose coeliac disease, especially in young children or people with low IgA.
- SampleBlood
- TakesAbout 5 minutes
- Before the testKeep eating your usual diet with gluten unless your doctor tells you otherwise, as avoiding gluten can make the result falsely negative.
How the test is done
- 1Eat your usual diet with gluten in the weeks before
- 2A nurse cleans a vein in your arm
- 3A needle collects a tube of blood
- 4The lab measures IgA and IgG antibodies to deamidated gliadin peptides
What your results can mean
Reading your report
Ranges and cut-offs differ between labs and methods, so discuss your result with your doctor.
If the result is outside the usual range
A positive result can point to coeliac disease, and the IgG form is useful in people with low IgA and in young children. A negative result after cutting out gluten may be falsely reassuring.
Who usually has this test
Children under about two, people with low IgA, and others being checked for coeliac disease.
Risks and aftercare
No special aftercare; continue your normal diet unless told otherwise.
Names and options
Also called: anti-GLAD, DGP antibody, gliadin antibody
Listed by the hospital as
- ANTI GLAD ANTIBODIES
Questions about this test
How is DGP different from older gliadin tests?
Older gliadin antibody tests gave many false positives. The deamidated form is more specific for coeliac disease and has largely replaced them.
Can a DGP test be used to check if a gluten-free diet is working?
Levels usually fall on a strict gluten-free diet, so doctors sometimes repeat the test over months. It is one guide among several.
Do I still need a biopsy if DGP is positive?
Often yes, especially in adults. A small bowel biopsy during an endoscopy usually confirms coeliac disease.
Related tests
Tamara Hospital & IVF Centre, Rajajinagar
34/3, 10th Cross Road, opp. Vardhaka Sardar Patel School, 1st N Block, 2nd Stage, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru 560010
The hospital is open 24 hours. Call before you come to check the timing for your scan or sample collection.
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This page explains each test in general terms so you know what to expect. It is not medical advice: your doctor decides which tests you need and what your results mean. Reference ranges differ between laboratories. Updated 4 November 2026.