Screening check
Should I be screened for celiac disease?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten that damages the small intestine. The US Preventive Services Task Force looked at whether people with no symptoms should be screened. Check what it says for you.
About you
Nothing you enter leaves this page.
What you will see
What the USPSTF says about celiac screening for you.
Educational only, not medical advice. This does not test for celiac disease. Talk to a clinician about any symptoms.
Source
US Preventive Services Task Force, March 2017 recommendation on screening for celiac disease. It is still the current statement.
Validated in
Adults, adolescents and children who do not have signs or symptoms of celiac disease.
Limits
It does not test for celiac disease and cannot tell whether you have it. It does not cover people with symptoms.
What the USPSTF recommends
| Who | Recommendation | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Adults, adolescents and children without signs or symptoms | Evidence is insufficient to weigh the benefits and harms of screening | I |
The USPSTF found inadequate evidence on how accurate screening tests are in people without symptoms, on whether screening improves health or quality of life, and on whether targeted screening of people at increased risk helps (USPSTF 2017). It also found inadequate evidence that treating celiac disease found by screening does better than treating it once it is diagnosed clinically (USPSTF 2017). Literature scans in May 2024 found no new evidence to support an updated review, so the 2017 statement still applies (USPSTF 2017).
Why it matters
In US studies, an estimated 0.40% to 0.95% of adults have celiac disease. It is more common in non-Hispanic white people, people with a family history and people with other autoimmune conditions (USPSTF 2017). Classic symptoms are diarrhea, belly pain and weight loss, but it can also show up as anemia, osteoporosis, long-term tiredness, nerve problems or short stature, and some people have symptoms for years before diagnosis (USPSTF 2017). Treatment is a lifelong gluten-free diet, which reverses the disease's effects in most patients (USPSTF 2017).
Why the evidence falls short
Possible harms of screening include false-positive or inconclusive blood tests, unneeded biopsies, anxiety and complications from testing (USPSTF 2017). With a prevalence of about 1%, only 12% to 40% of positive blood tests are expected to be true positives; in higher-risk groups the figure is 40% to 80% (USPSTF 2017). Some people with a positive blood test and no biopsy cut out gluten, which adds cost and burden and can limit quality of life (USPSTF 2017). Little is known about how often celiac disease found without symptoms goes on to cause symptoms (USPSTF 2017).
Common questions
Who is at higher risk?
People with a first- or second-degree relative with celiac disease, and people with other autoimmune or related conditions such as type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel conditions, Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, IgA deficiency and IgA nephropathy (USPSTF 2017).
How is celiac disease diagnosed?
The standard approach in people older than 2 with symptoms is the tissue transglutaminase (tTG) IgA blood test, followed by an intestinal biopsy to confirm (USPSTF 2017). A good-quality review found the tTG IgA test has sensitivity and specificity above 90% (USPSTF 2017).
Also see the diabetes screening check, the osteoporosis screening check and all screening tests by age.
Sources
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Celiac Disease: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2017;317(12):1252-1257. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/celiac-disease-screening
Written and maintained by the uncovermyrisk.com editorial team. We do not have a medical reviewer; every claim links to its primary source above. Last reviewed: 2026-10-30. Spotted an error? See About.