New blood test for coeliac disease can diagnose autoimmune condition without need to eat gluten

Australian researchers hope a new blood test to detect coeliac disease will be available for clinical use within two years. Photograph: stacey_newman/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Coeliacs may soon no longer need to eat large amounts of gluten – the very thing suspected of making them sick – to get an accurate diagnosis.

Australian research published on Tuesday in the journal Gastroenterology showed a blood test for gluten-specific T cells had a high accuracy in diagnosing coeliac disease, even when no gluten was eaten.