What is S-IgA?
The S-IgA test checks the levels of antibodies called immunoglobulins in your bloodstream. Antibodies are proteins made by your immune cells to fight off pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and mold and also food proteins. The immunoglobulin test can show whether there's a problem with your immune system.
IgA antibodies are found in the mucous membranes of the lungs, sinuses, stomach, and intestines. They are also found in fluids produced by these membranes (saliva, tears, and blood). Most S-IgA is produced by the gastrointestinal barrier. IgA antibodies constitute 10 to 15% of the total antibodies.
Why test S-IgA?
Health check
Discover factors for lifestyle diseases in time and do something about them. You may want to rule out or diagnose problems with the immune system, intestines, and kidneys. IgA is also a common biomarker for children with recurrent infections or chronic health problems.
Symptoms
An S-IgA test is often part of a routine check when you have diverse symptoms, especially frequent infections of the sinuses, lungs, stomach, or intestines, chronic diarrhea or other gut problems, unintended weight loss, fevers, skin rashes, or allergies.
Monitoring
Monitor changes to your blood values as you make lifestyle changes or undergo treatments.
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What do the results mean?
What causes low S-IgA?
Low S-IgA means that your immune system is weakened and that something has been attacking your body for a long time. Causes include the use of certain medicines such as steroids and immunosuppressive drugs, diabetes, kidney disease and/or failure, long-term autoimmune disease, chronic disease/symptoms, long-term consumption of foods that you have allergy/sensitivity to, chronic infections, long-term stress, poor sleep, and exhaustion.
One common reason for low S-IgA is damage to the intestinal barrier, such as with untreated celiac disease or non-celiac gluten intolerance, which can reduce S-IgA production.
You don’t necessarily have one of these conditions just because your immunoglobulin level is low.
What causes high S-IgA?
High S-IgA means that your immune system is acutely reacting to something foreign like active infections, inflammation, allergies, development of disease or autoimmune disease, or autoimmune flare-ups.
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Instructions
No advance preparation is needed for this test.
On the day of the test
Remember to take I.D. with you when going to take a test. Arrive early and sit down quietly for 15 minutes before taking the test.