The present enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) is intended for the quantitative or qualitative determination of IgA antibodies in human serum, directed against tTG (tissue Transglutaminase). The immobilised antigen is a highly purified preparation of human recombinant tTG, expressed in the baculovirus system. The test is fast (incubation time 30 / 30 / 30 minutes) and flexible (divisible solid phase, ready to use reagents). Six calibrators allow quantitative measurements; a negative and a positive control check the assay performance.

Celiac disease (CD; synonyme: gluten-sensitive enteropathy) affects the upper small intestine and is caused by a hypersensitive reaction to gluten, a set of proteins present in many kinds of cereal grain, e.g. wheat, oats, barley and rye. Its morphological manifestation, the more or less complete atrophy of the villi of the mucous membrane, leads to malabsorption problems, e.g. chronic
vitamin deficiency. It has been known for many years that elevated levels of gluten-specific antibodies occur in the sera of celiac patients. Also, autoantibodies directed against endomysium of the smooth muscle are specifically associated with this disease. Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) has been identified as the predominant endomysial CD autoantigen.