Breath Tests

Urea Breath Test

• To detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria in the stomach.
• How it works: The test involves drinking a solution containing urea labeled with a carbon isotope. If H. pylori is present, it will break down the urea into carbon dioxide, which is then exhaled and detected in your breath sample.
• What it measures: The amount of labeled carbon dioxide in your breath.
• Diagnosis: H. pylori infection, which can cause gastritis, ulcers, and in rare cases, even cancer.

Hydrogen Breath Test 

• To diagnose conditions like Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), lactose intolerance, and fructose intolerance.
• How it works: You drink a liquid containing a specific type of sugar (lactose, fructose, etc.). If your body can't digest the sugar properly, bacteria in your gut will ferment it and produce hydrogen, which is then exhaled and measured in your breath.
• What it measures: The amount of hydrogen in your breath over time.
• Diagnosis: SIBO, lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance, and other conditions involving carbohydrate malabsorption.