Wheat grain immunofluorescent antibodies as an indication of gluten sensitivity?

An immunofluorescence method using whole sections of wheat grains as the substrate was applied to detect circulating antibodies to wheat gluten in dermatitis herpetiformis patients and in controls. Only IgG class antibodies were detected. From dermatitis herpetiformis patients 22% had these antibodies as had 22% of the atopic dermatitis group. Among the controls who had no skin problems 12% were faintly positive. It is evident that the test as such is non-specific and does not have diagnostic significance in dermatitis herpetiformis.