Hydrogen breath test

Home  >  Services  > Diarrhea

Hydrogen breath test

What is a Hydrogen breath test?

The hydrogen breath test is a simple and noninvasive way to diagnose common gastrointestinal conditions, including lactose intolerance and SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth). It does take some advance preparation to make sure results are accurate. The breath test evaluates your digestion of particular sugars by measuring the gas you exhale, usually hydrogen and methane.

What does Hydrogen breath test diagnose?

Many different digestive conditions will cause abnormal hydrogen levels in your gut, which can then be measured in your breath. But when your healthcare provider suggests the hydrogen breath test, it’s usually to confirm or rule out one of two conditions:

Intolerance to a specific sugar, such as lactose, fructose, sucrose or sorbitol — also called carbohydrate malabsorption. Lactose intolerance is the most common.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). This is when helpful bacteria from your colon have moved into your small intestine, where they don’t belong.