Breath tests offered at Laboratoire DR. Chelala: SIBO, Lactose Intolerance, and H. Pylori Urea Breath Test

Diagnostic Breath Tests

What can your breath
tell us about your health?

Breath tests are simple, non-invasive diagnostic tools that detect gastrointestinal conditions by analyzing the gases you exhale. No needles. No complex prep. Fast, accurate results.

SIBO Breath Test

Small Intestinal
Bacterial Overgrowth

Hydrogen Breath Test

SIBO occurs when bacteria that normally live in the large intestine migrate and overgrow in the small intestine. These bacteria ferment carbohydrates and produce excess gases, causing a range of digestive symptoms. The breath test measures hydrogen (H₂) and methane (CH₄) gas levels in your exhaled air at regular intervals after drinking a glucose or lactulose solution.

How it works

1

Fast for 12 hours before the test

2

Drink a lactulose or glucose solution

3

Blow into collection bags every 20 min for 2–3 hours

4

Gas levels are analyzed for bacterial activity

Common symptoms investigated

Bloating Abdominal pain Chronic diarrhea Constipation Excessive gas IBS-like symptoms

~3 hours time

No blood withdrawal

Fasting required on test day

24 hr special diet prior test

No recent colonoscopy (1 month)

Stop antibiotics prior 1 week

A rise of ≥20 ppm in H₂ or ≥10 ppm in CH₄ above baseline indicates a positive result.

Lactose Test

Lactose Intolerance
Breath Test

Hydrogen Breath Test (HBT)

Lactose intolerance happens when the body lacks sufficient lactase enzyme to digest lactose — the sugar found in dairy products. Undigested lactose passes into the colon where gut bacteria ferment it, producing hydrogen gas that enters the bloodstream and is exhaled through the lungs. This test captures that response in real time.

How it works

1

Fast for 8–12 hours before the test

2

Drink a lactose solution (25–50 g dissolved in water)

3

Provide breath samples every 30 min over 2 hours

4

Rising hydrogen levels confirm poor lactose digestion

Common symptoms investigated

Gas & bloating Diarrhea after dairy Nausea Stomach cramps Urgency after meals

~2 hours time

No blood withdrawal

Fasting required on test day

24 hr special diet prior test

No recent colonoscopy (1 month)

Stop antibiotics prior 1 week

An increase of ≥20 ppm in exhaled hydrogen above baseline is considered a positive result.

Urea Breath Test

H. Pylori Detection
Urea Breath Test

¹³C-Urea Breath Test (UBT)

Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria that infects the stomach lining and is a leading cause of gastric ulcers, chronic gastritis, and is linked to stomach cancer risk. The UBT uses a labeled urea capsule — if H. pylori is present, its urease enzyme breaks down the urea into CO₂, which is detected in your exhaled breath. It's the gold standard non-invasive test for active H. pylori infection.

How it works

1

Fast for at least 4 hours; stop antibiotics/PPIs 2 weeks prior

2

Provide a baseline breath sample

3

Swallow a ¹³C-labeled urea capsule with water

4

Exhale into a collection bag 15 minutes later for analysis

Common symptoms investigated

Stomach ulcers Persistent heartburn Chronic gastritis Nausea & vomiting Unexplained weight loss

~30 minutes time

No blood withdrawal

Fasting required on test day

95%+ accuracy

No PPIs (ex: Nexium, etc.) 1 month prior

Stop antibiotics prior 2 weeks

Also used post-treatment to confirm successful eradication of H. pylori infection.