title: Performance of a new rapid whole blood coeliac test in adult patients with low prevalence of endomysial antibodies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In coeliac disease endomysial and transglutaminase autoantibodies are directed against the human autoantigen, transglutaminase. The conventional coeliac antibody tests are performed from serum samples in centralized laboratories.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a rapid and easy immunoglobulin A-class whole blood point-of-care test and its commercial application, the Biocard test, in coeliac autoantibody detection.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the whole blood point-of-care test transglutaminase is liberated from the red blood cells by haemolysis. Transglutaminase antibodies, if present, complex with the liberated antigen, and are visualized. Altogether 51 biopsy-proven untreated coeliac adult patients, 48 of the same patients after treatment, and 36 controls were tested. The point-of-care test results were compared with serum endomysial and transglutaminase antibody and Biocard test results and histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The whole blood point-of-care test was as sensitive (82%) as the serum endomysium test (80%) in detecting untreated coeliac disease while the serum transglutaminase antibody test was superior (88%). The tests had 100% specificity. A positive point-of-care test result seroconverted or the test reaction weakened in 90% of the treated coeliac patients. Biocard test-positive were 22 of the 24 tested untreated coeliac patients. Biocard test-negative were 15 of 19 controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The whole blood rapid tests are as reliable as the conventional serological tests in detecting untreated coeliac disease and in coeliac disease diet monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Research Centre, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Raivio
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Korponay-Szabó
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Collin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laurila
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huhtala
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaartinen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Partanen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mäki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaukinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000276:immunology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012155:Reticulin / Q000276:immunology*; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012155:Reticulin; D011503:Transglutaminases