Yes, you definitely have to have gluten in your system for the simple blood test. Just remember, though, that you can still get a false negative. I've tested negative and no doctor will go beyond the blood test if it's negative. However, I have plenty of evidence that even my PCP can't ignore that I am definitely negative impacted by gluten. So, she knows that even if it's not proveable CD that I definitely have gluten intolerance. The severe eczema I had on the heels of my hands has cleared up since going gluten free, and that's visible physical evidence that is hard to ignore. Just something to keep in mind, if you still get a negative.
I have also read some important evidence that suggests that no one should be eating the modern hybrid wheat. So, I would tell people who are still "okay" with gluten to consider steering away from modern bread products anyway and go toward the heirloom varieties, such as spelt or kamut. BUT, not any of the folks on this forum who are steering away from gluten entirely, because the heirloom varieties still have gluten in them. They just have considerably less. The modern hybrid wheat used for breads and pastas has about 14-15% gluten protein in it. The other modern hybrid wheats that are softer still have around 10% gluten protein in them. The heirloom varieties have closer to 2% gluten protein. This is important information for everyone here, even though we're all already convinced we should cut out all gluten entirely. It's still good information for our friends and family to know about.
You need to have some gluten in your system to test. You can be gluten intolerant and not CD, which sounds like what may be happening with you. I have hashi (opposite of you) and have heard gluten can effect your thyroid in different ways. I have alot of the same symptoms as you and tested neg. The doc said I was just gluten sensitive. Good luck to you!
Hi, I don't think so .. but not 100% sure.
C~