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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How is IgA deficiency diagnosed?

    Related Topics
    IgA Deficiency Immunology
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    Joanna Sochan

    Naturopath, Nutritionist, Western Herbal Medicine Practitioner

    Joanna is a Natural Medicine Practitioner (Naturopath, Herbalist and Nutritionist) who offers an integrative and holistic approach to health and wellbeing. She applies a number … View Profile

    Diagnosis is made with a help of blood test measuring serum IgA, although salivary and fecal sIgA levels are also found to be absent or low. In addition, certain symptoms are also indicative of low IgA levels, these include recurring ear, sinus, or lung infections that may not respond to regular treatment even with antibiotics. Other problems include multiple food allergies, asthma, chronic diarrhoea, and autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

    For more detailed information on IgA and its importance for our health please see my article 'Importance of secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) for digestive and overall health'.

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  • Dr Liam Beiglari

    Allergy Specialist & Immunologist

    I am a clinical immunologist and allergist. I am experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with allergic diseases, autoimmune conditions, those living … View Profile

    IgA deficiency is diagnosed with a blood test measuring immunoglobulin levels, including IgA. It is not usually diagnosed with genetic testing, and salivary or faecal IgA tests are not part of the standard diagnostic approach.

    Selective IgA deficiency is relatively common, affecting about 1 in 500 people. Many people with IgA deficiency have no symptoms at all and only find out incidentally.

    One common situation where it is detected is during testing for coeliac disease. The usual screening blood test for coeliac disease is tissue transglutaminase IgA, or tTG-IgA. If someone is IgA deficient, this test may be falsely negative, so doctors may need to use IgG-based coeliac tests instead.

    When low IgA is found, it is also important to check the other major antibody classes, particularly IgG and IgM. If more than one antibody type is low, that may suggest a broader antibody deficiency, such as common variable immunodeficiency, rather than isolated IgA deficiency.

    If IgA deficiency is found and there are recurrent infections, autoimmune problems, chronic diarrhoea, or uncertainty about the result, it is worth discussing this with a clinical immunologist.

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