What is a hydrogen breath test?

Also known as: breath test, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth hydrogen breath test.


What happens during the procedure?

After fasting for 12 hours, a patient fills a balloon using their breath. Then the patient consumes a test sugar such as lactose and glucose or lactulose which is a non-absorbable sugar, and repeats the test every 15 minutes for several hours.

Is any special preparation needed?

The patient needs to avoid eating for 12 hours before the hydrogen breath test.

What are the risk factors?

There are no risks related to the hydrogen breath test.

Reviewed by: Carrie Firestone Baum, MD


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