Table 2.
Comparison of serological endomysial vs. tissue transglutaminase antibody tests.
| Endomysial (EMA) | Transglutaminase (tTG) | |
| Source of antigen | • Monkey esophagus | • Guinea pig |
| • Human umbilical cord | • Human | |
| • Human jejunum | ||
| Substrate | • Endomysium (connective tissue protein surrounding smooth muscle): tTG autoantibody | • Tissue transglutaminase |
| Assay | • Indirect immunofluorescence | • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent |
| Limitations/Advantages | • Expensive | • Lower cost |
| • Difficult to perform | • Less time consuming | |
| • Subjective interpretation of immunofluorescence | • Avoids subjective interpretation of immunofluorescence | |
| • Does not use Monkey esophagus |