Small intestine bacterial overgrowth tests

For symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea, bloating, gas and abdominal cramps, this test detects abnormal growth of bacteria in the small intestine.

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What is a SIBO breath test?

Hydrogen and methane breath testing is a widely accepted means of identifying changes to the gut microbiome and is used to detect abnormal growth of bacteria in the small intestine, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

You may be referred for this test if you are experiencing symptoms including diarrhoea, nausea, bloating, gas and abdominal cramps.

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How it works

You will provide an initial breath sample by blowing into a test tube through a straw, or into a breath collection bag, which will give us your baseline reading.

You will drink water with glucose or lactulose within 1–2 minutes. Breath samples will be taken every 15 minutes for just over two hours to measure hydrogen and methane.

During the test, you should take note of any symptoms you experience and complete the symptom form, which will then be interpreted alongside the data collected by a clinician.

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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.

4 weeks before your test

Do not take any antibiotics.

1 week before your test

Do not take laxatives or stool softeners (Movicol, Dulcolax, Ex-Lax, Senna, Milk of Magnesia etc.)

Do not take stool bulking agents (Metamucil, citrucel etc.)

Do not take motility agents

(Prucalopride, linaclotide etc.)

Do not take probiotics

(VSL#3, Actimel, Yakult etc.)

You can continue taking any other essential medicines. Additionally, there must be a period of one week between any tests which require cleansing of the bowel e.g. colonoscopy, barium enema, before having a breath test.

2 days before your test

No anti-diarrhoeal medication (e.g. Loperamide (Imodium))

The day before your test

You must follow the ‘white food diet’ which consists of only the following foods and drinks:

• Plain white bread

• Plain white rice

• White potatoes (no skin)

• Baked/grilled chicken, turkey, lean beef, lean pork, white fish (no oily fish)

• Maximum of 2 eggs

• Water (non-carbonated)

• Non-flavoured black coffee (no milk)

• Non-flavoured black tea (no milk and no herbal teas)

• 1 tbsp butter/margarine/oil

• Salt to flavour food

Do not eat or drink anything else, eating prohibited foods could give false results for the test.

For 12 hours before your test

You must stop eating and drinking and fast for 12 hours before your test.

The day of your test

You can have small sips of water (maximum of 300ml) until the start of your test
You may take your essential medicines with a small amount of water
You may brush your teeth

Do not eat, drink, chew gum, smoke, eat breath mints and/or other sweets on the morning of or during of your test.

ⓘ If you are diabetic requiring insulin or diabetes medicine, please ask your doctor if you should change your morning dose. Oral hypoglycaemic medicines are usually not taken that morning until completion of the test and you start eating again.