Celiac HLA DQ Association

Whole blood or buccal swabs

7 mL or four buccal swabs

3 mL or four buccal swabs

Lavender-top (EDTA) tube or four buccal swabs in a sealed envelope (buccal swab kit). If submitting buccal swabs, please use the kit provided by Labcorp. To obtain the buccal swab kit or to discuss other specimen types, please call 800-533-1037.

Standard phlebotomy procedures or follow buccal swab kit instructions

Maintain specimen at room temperature. Protect from extreme heat or cold.

Incorrect specimen container (tube type); yellow-top (ACD) tube

This test aids in the diagnosis of celiac disease. The HLA DQ Association test provides genotyping for detection of HLA-DQ2 (DQA1*05:01 or 05:05 and DQB1*02:01 or 02:02) and HLA-DQ8 (DQB1*03:02). Patients with DQ2, half DQ2 and/or DQ8 are predisposed to celiac disease. A negative result essentially rules out celiac disease. In addition to DQ2 and DQ8 status, the report also includes complete DQA and DQB genotypes, homozygosity for DQB1*02 and genetic risk assessment.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a well-defined genetic predisposition and sensitivity to gluten (found in wheat, barley and rye) that causes inflammation in the small intestine, villous atrophy and malabsorption. Celiac disease can present with gastrointestinal symptoms and/or widely variable non-gastrointestinal findings such as iron deficiency anemia, dermatitis herpetiformis, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue, short stature, neurologic symptoms and many more. Gastrointestinal symptoms are present in fewer than 50% of cases of systomatic celiac disease. Strict avoidance of gluten in the diet will rid inflammation in most cases, and celiac-associated antibodies are likely to disappear with time.

Celiac disease affects approximately one percent of the U.S. population, but only about 17% of cases are currently diagnosed. Underdiagnosis is likely due to the variable presentation of celiac disease and clinical overlap with numerous other disorders such as IBS. The prevalence of celiac disease in increased in certain autoimmune disorders such as insulin-dependent diabetes (~6%), thyroiditis (~2-4%) and Sjogren syndrome (~5%). It is also increased in Down syndrome (5-12%), Turner syndrome (~3%), Williams syndrome (3-10%) and selective IgA deficiency (~2-10%).

Genetic predisposition to celiac disease requires the presence of specific variants of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genes HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1 to be present. These genes encode the alpha and beta chains of the celiac-associated proteins DQ2 and DQ8. Presence of DQ2, half DQ2 and/or DQ8 is required but not sufficient for the development of celiac disease. One or more of these HLA results are present in 30% of the population, but overall, only three percent of these individuals develop celiac disease. The risk for developing celiac disease increases when there is a first degree relative with celiac disease (e.g., the risk approaches 40% for siblings with the same HLA genotype as a patient with celiac disease).

The HLA DQ Association test detects celiac disease-associated alleles that predispose to the disorder but is not diagnostic of celiac disease. More than 95% of celiac disease patients are positive for DQ2, half DQ2 or DQ8, but many individuals with these genetic results do not develop celiac disease. Even with appropriate precautions, an occasional specimen may not be satisfactory for testing. In such cases, fresh specimens should be collected for retesting.

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Labcorp. It has not been cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Next-generation sequencing or other methods as needed

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Sapone A, Bai JC, Ciacci C, et al. Spectrum of gluten-related disorders: Consensus on new nomenclature and classification. BMC Med. 2012 Feb 7:10:13. PubMed 22313950

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