Australian and U.S. researchers have developed a new approach to detecting unrecognized cases of celiac disease in the community, revealing this immune disorder is far more common than previously recognized. In a study of more than 2500 adults, the researchers combined traditional antibody testing (measuring the immune response to gluten) with an assessment of specific genetic risk markers. They found that more than half of the subjects had genetic risk factors for developing celiac disease. This newly developed testing strategy also showed that celiac disease potentially affected at least one in 60 women and one in 80 men. The research is published online in the journal BMC Medicine.