SMALL INTESTINAL BACTERIAL OVERGROWTH(SIBO) & LACTOSE TEST:

SIBO refers to a condition in which abnormally large numbers of bacteria are present in the small intestine. This overgrowth of bacteria and other organisms competes with your body for the digestion of nutrients, such as vitamins. There is also malabsorption of sugars and carbohydrates, which are then passed to the colon where greater amounts of gas are produced, causing bloating, abdominal discomfort and loose stool.
The lactulose or glucose breath tests are the standard tests to do in order to diagnose this condition.
Gastric acid secretion and intestinal motility limit the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. When these protective mechanisms against excessive bacterial growth fail, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can manifest.

The most common symptoms of SIBO are:
  • Bloating
  • Gas
  • Abdominal pain
  • Feelings of fullness
  • Lack of appetite 
  • Malnutrition 
  • Weight loss
  • Diarrhea

Preparations before the test:
  • Follow a specific diet the day before: grilled meat or chicken - steamed rice or boiled potatoes. No sauces and oils. No fried food. No dairy product or gluten.
  • No antibiotic treatment for at least a week prior.
  • No colonoscopy or endoscopy for a month prior.
  • Fast for the last 12 hours including smoking.
  • Water in little quantity is allowed.

During the test:
  • Baseline breath sample: exhale into a device to get a baseline measurement of gas levels. 
  • Sugar solution drink: a solution containing a diluted sugar: lactulose or glucose (specified by physician)
  • Repetition of breath samples: over the next two to three hours, repeated breathes into the device at regular intervals (e.g., every 15, 20 or 30 minutes). 
  • Data analysis: the technician will analyze the breath samples to measure the levels of hydrogen gas produced, which will indicate bacterial activity in the small intestine.
HELICOBACTER PYLORI (H. PYLORI) OR UREA BREATH TEST:


The Urea Breath Test is a non-invasive test used to detect Helicobacter pylori infection by measuring carbon dioxide levels in the breath after ingesting a urea solution.

Preparations before the tests:
  • Fast (no food or liquids or smoking) for a minimum of six hours before the test.
  • No antibiotics for four weeks prior to test.
  • No cytoprotectives (e.g. Nexium, Exonar, Gastrimut, ...) for two weeks prior to test.
  • Water in little quantity is allowed.

During the test:
  • The test can be performed at any time of the day, and will take approximately 10-15 minutes.
  • Blow into a breath collection balloon 10 minutes after taking an urea capsule provided by the healthcare center. The sample will be sent to the laboratory for analysis.