Gastric emptying tests for gastroparesis

For symptoms such as feeling full very quickly, abdominal discomfort, pain, nausea, vomiting of undigested food or bloating. This test evaluates how long it takes for food to leave your stomach.

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What is a gastric emptying test?

This test evaluates how long it takes for food to leave your stomach. It can help identify disorders such as gastroparesis where there is an abnormal function of muscles or nerves that control the stomach’s contractions, causing delayed emptying into the small intestine.

To do this you will eat a small meal containing a safe chemical (13C) which is digested with the food and excreted by your lungs. We will measure how much of the chemical is in your breath over time which enables us to assess how well your stomach is emptying.

How it works

You will eat a small meal containing a safe chemical (13C) which is digested with the food and excreted by your lungs.

We will measure how much of the chemical is in your breath over time which enables us to estimate how well your stomach is emptying.

Following your test, your data will be analysed, and results written up into a report.

Download the information leaflet

Preparing for your test

Before you test, there are some things we ask you to do, to ensure safety and accurate results. This includes stopping certain medication and fasting for a short period.

Please read our patient information leaflet for full details.

For 2 days before your test

Do not take pro-motility agents (Domperidone, azithromycin etc.)

You can continue taking any other essential medicines.

The day before your test

Do not take antacids

(Gaviscon, Milk of Magnesia, Rennie etc.)

The day of your test

You must stop eating and drinking and fast for 6 hours before your test.

Getting your test results

The results will be displayed as a graph that can be analysed by our clinical team to see if your stomach is emptying food at a normal rate.

Your data will be analysed, and results written up into a report. The report will be sent to both you and your referring consultant/doctor, who will explain the results to you in a follow-up consultation.

Paying for your test

Self-paying: If you are paying for this test yourself and not through insurance, the cost will be £1,060.

This cost includes the gastric emptying test, analysis and report.

Insurance coverage

If you have private medical insurance, most companies can cover this for you.

Got a question or want to find out more about our tests?

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