Digestive Health
Digestive health blood test Plymouth
A digestive health blood test Plymouth screens for common conditions causing bloating, abdominal pain, and digestive symptoms. At Tamar Health, this comprehensive panel includes a coeliac screen (tissue transglutaminase IgA and total IgA), inflammation markers (CRP and ESR), full blood count, H. pylori serology, liver function, albumin, and B12/folate and iron/ferritin levels. This test identifies the leading causes of digestive distress and malabsorption, helping you find answers to persistent gut symptoms.
Why digestive health testing matters
Many people experience chronic digestive symptoms without ever discovering the cause. Bloating, abdominal pain, irregular bowel movements, and nutritional deficiencies can stem from coeliac disease, H. pylori infection, malabsorption, or inflammatory bowel disease. These conditions are treatable once identified, but often go undiagnosed for years. Coeliac disease is particularly underdiagnosed in the UK — it affects 1 in 100 people, but many remain unaware because symptoms are subtle or attributed to IBS. A digestive health blood test can provide definitive answers and guide appropriate management, whether that’s dietary change, eradication therapy, or specialist referral.
What this test measures
This panel screens for the most common causes of digestive problems and malabsorption, including coeliac disease, bacterial infection, malnutrition, and inflammation.
| Marker or test | What it measures | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) IgA | Coeliac-specific antibody | Elevated if you have coeliac disease; most sensitive test for diagnosis |
| Total IgA | Total immunoglobulin A level | Checked to verify that tTG IgA result is reliable; low IgA can cause false-negative tTG |
| H. pylori serology | Antibodies to H. pylori bacteria | Presence indicates past or current H. pylori infection; causes stomach pain, ulcers, and poor nutrient absorption |
| CRP (C-reactive protein) | General inflammation marker | Elevated in inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis) and active inflammation |
| ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) | Slower form of inflammation marker | Elevated in chronic inflammation; helps assess severity of inflammatory conditions |
| Full blood count (FBC) | Red cells, white cells, platelets | Anaemia is common in coeliac disease and H. pylori infection; indicates iron/B12 malabsorption |
| Albumin | Key protein made by liver | Low levels indicate malnutrition or protein-losing conditions; seen in serious coeliac disease or IBD |
| Vitamin B12 and folate | B vitamin levels | Deficiency is common in coeliac disease, H. pylori infection, and poor absorption |
| Iron and ferritin | Iron levels and storage | Deficiency causes anaemia and fatigue; malabsorption is a major cause in digestive disease |
| Liver function tests | ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin | Baseline assessment; liver involvement can occur in some GI conditions |
Who should get this test?
A digestive health blood test is recommended if you experience persistent digestive symptoms affecting your quality of life. Common reasons include chronic bloating, recurrent abdominal pain, irregular bowel movements (diarrhoea or constipation), IBS-type symptoms, unexplained weight loss, food intolerances, heartburn or reflux, or nutritional deficiencies. Anyone with a family history of coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease should consider testing, as these conditions run in families. If you feel persistently fatigued or have ongoing anaemia, a digestive health test can identify malabsorption as a cause.
- Chronic bloating
- Abdominal pain
- IBS-type symptoms
- Unexplained weight loss
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Suspected coeliac disease
- Reflux or heartburn
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Persistent fatigue
- Family history of gut disease
What your results mean
Understanding your digestive results
If your coeliac screen (tTG IgA) is elevated, this indicates coeliac disease and needs confirmation through endoscopy with duodenal biopsy, usually arranged through your GP. If H. pylori serology is positive, this indicates current or past infection and may require eradication treatment — discuss with your GP or our clinician about next steps. If your iron, B12, or folate are low, this indicates malabsorption and supplementation is usually recommended. Elevated CRP or ESR suggests inflammation, which could indicate inflammatory bowel disease or other conditions requiring specialist assessment.
If your test comes back entirely normal but you still have symptoms, this is still valuable information — it makes certain conditions less likely and may point toward other diagnoses like IBS or functional dyspepsia, which require different management approaches. Our clinician will discuss results in the context of your symptoms and advise on next steps, which may include dietary changes, supplementation, GP referral, or specialist gastroenterology assessment.
What happens at your appointment
Your appointment at Tamar Health in Estover is straightforward. A trained phlebotomist will take a blood sample in under five minutes. No fasting is required for this test, so you can eat and drink normally beforehand. Our clinician can discuss your digestive symptoms and what you’re hoping to find out, which helps them interpret results in the right context.
Results are typically available within 24–72 hours. We’ll contact you with your findings and can arrange a follow-up appointment to discuss next steps. If a diagnosis like coeliac disease or H. pylori infection is suggested, we can advise on management or GP/specialist referral. If you have nutritional deficiencies, we’ll recommend supplementation and dietary strategies to address them. For ongoing diagnostic uncertainty, we can discuss with you when further specialist investigation might be appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
What if my coeliac test is negative but I still suspect coeliac disease?
A negative test is reassuring if you were eating gluten normally at the time. However, if you had already started avoiding gluten before testing, you should not rely on a negative result. Discuss this with your clinician — you may need testing repeated after a period eating gluten, or you may benefit from a trial gluten-free diet to see if your symptoms improve (which would suggest coeliac disease or non-coeliac gluten sensitivity).
Do I need to fast before this test?
No, fasting is not required for this digestive health panel. You can eat and drink normally before your appointment. However, ensure you’re well hydrated to make blood sampling easier.
If I test positive for H. pylori, what happens next?
A positive H. pylori result usually means you have an active or recent infection. Your GP can prescribe eradication treatment (antibiotics and acid suppression), which is highly effective. After treatment, a follow-up test (usually a breath test) confirms eradication. Let your GP know about the positive result, and they’ll arrange appropriate management.
What’s the difference between coeliac disease and gluten sensitivity?
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition with a positive coeliac antibody test and confirmed gut damage on biopsy. Non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) describes gluten-triggered symptoms without coeliac antibodies or gut damage. This test identifies coeliac disease; if results are negative but symptoms improve on a gluten-free diet, you may have NCGS, which is managed through dietary avoidance.
I’m on acid-suppressing medication — will this affect my test?
Acid-suppressing medications may reduce H. pylori detection, but they don’t affect coeliac testing or other markers in this panel. If you’re on long-term acid suppression, discuss this with your clinician, as some medications can reduce nutrient absorption and contribute to deficiencies.
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Book your digestive health blood test in Plymouth
No referral needed. Results within 24–72 hours. From £25 appointment fee. Individual test costs apply — see our blood test price list for details.
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