Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) Breath Test
This test is considered when symptoms of IBS, constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, abdominal pain, and/or reflux/heartburn have become chronic and an underlying cause has yet to be identified.
This test is used to determine if bacterial overgrowth – via the presence of methane or hydrogen gas – is the cause of your health concerns.
This breath test involve ingesting a lactose sample and collecting 10 breath samples over a 3 hour period of time. A positive SIBO result can present in one of three ways:
· Positive hydrogen gas from hydrogen-producing bacteria (elicits more diarrhea)
· Positive methane gas from methane-producing bacteria (causes more constipation)
· Positive for both hydrogen and methane gas (mimics IBS with alternating constipation and diarrhea)
