Home Testing for SIBO and IMO
The OMED Health SIBO Test uses a handheld medical device to measure the levels of hydrogen and methane in your breath at home and provide a doctor-led diagnosis of SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and IMO (intestinal methanogen overgrowth). These conditions are characterized by a range of gut symptoms including bloating, diarrhea, constipation, excess gas, tiredness, and nausea.
What’s the difference between lactulose and glucose tests?
Taking a SIBO breath test involves drinking a substrate (lactulose or glucose), and capturing breath samples. The levels of hydrogen and methane in your breath are then analyzed to diagnose whether you have SIBO or IMO. As explained in the video below, the body reacts to each of these substrates differently.
Lactulose is a synthetic sugar that cannot be absorbed by the body. This means that it will travel through all regions of the small intestine without being absorbed. If there is bacterial overgrowth present, the sugar will be fermented by organisms in the gut into hydrogen gas. Readings over a certain threshold in a specific timeframe indicate SIBO. However, if it passes through the gut too quickly, you may receive a false positive result. This is because lactulose may reach the large intestine faster, where it can be fermented by the bacteria typically found there. The resulting hydrogen gas readings could therefore appear soon after ingestion, mimicking SIBO even if there isn’t a bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.
Glucose, on the other hand, is a sugar that can be absorbed by the small intestine. This means that it could be absorbed before reaching a bacterial overgrowth present in the latter half of the small intestine. This increases the likelihood of a false negative result. The glucose test can be used for people with altered gut anatomy – for example, people who have had weight loss surgery, as it reduces the risk of false positive results that could result from these surgeries, when using lactulose.
If you are unsure about whether a SIBO test with lactulose or glucose is most suitable for you, it is best to consult your healthcare provider, or contact us, as some people may have a strong reaction to the lactulose substrate.
How does the OMED Health SIBO Test work?
The medical-grade OMED Health Breath Analyzer measures the levels of hydrogen and methane in your breath, which are gases produced by your gut microbiota. The Breath Analyzer is integrated within our clinician-led breath testing kits, distributed and managed entirely through independent healthcare professionals.
To complete a SIBO test, you will be guided by the OMED Health App, including how to prepare for the test. Your readings will be reviewed by an OMED Health Doctor before you receive your test results via the app.
How can I order a SIBO Breath Test?
Your healthcare provider requests your SIBO test, and your kit is delivered to your home with everything needed to complete the test. You will receive your doctor-led diagnosis in the app. Your healthcare provider will receive a copy of your results and can use this information to discuss with you which treatment options may be suitable.
The OMED Health Breath Analyzer allows you to track your breath hydrogen and methane levels, which are calculated right after taking a sample. By utilizing the Breath Analyzer as directed within your practitioner’s care plan, you can easily monitor your hydrogen and methane curves from the comfort of home. Your gas levels appear instantly in the companion OMED Health App after each sample
