SIBO Testing UK
Our SIBO test measures the levels of hydrogen and methane gas in the breath. We can post SIBO test kits all over the UK.
IBS Specialists as featured in the Guardian
Private SIBO Breath Test UK
If you are experiencing persistent bloating, excessive gas, abdominal discomfort or constipation or diarrhoea, these symptoms can sometimes be associated with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
A hydrogen and methane breath test is one of the non-invasive methods used to investigate whether bacterial overgrowth or intestinal methanogen overgrowth may be contributing to these symptoms.
At IBS Solutions, SIBO breath testing can be completed at home anywhere in the UK.
The test costs £169 including UK postage, and results are usually available within 2–3 working days after the completed samples are received by the laboratory.
What is SIBO?
SIBO stands for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth.
It occurs when excessive numbers of bacteria are present in the small intestine.
Although bacteria naturally live throughout the digestive tract, the small intestine normally contains far fewer bacteria than the colon. Several mechanisms help maintain this balance, including stomach acid, bile, digestive secretions and normal intestinal movement.
When these mechanisms are disrupted, bacteria may accumulate in the small intestine.
These bacteria can ferment carbohydrates from food and produce gases such as hydrogen, which may contribute to symptoms such as bloating, abdominal distension, excessive gas, abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea.
Methane detected during breath testing is slightly different. Methane is produced by organisms called methanogens, which are archaea rather than bacteria. Elevated methane is therefore increasingly referred to as Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth (IMO) and is particularly associated with constipation and slower intestinal transit.
What Are the Symptoms of SIBO?
Symptoms can vary considerably between individuals and often overlap with other digestive conditions, particularly Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Common symptoms include:
- Abdominal bloating
- Visible abdominal distension
- Excessive gas or flatulence
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Alternating diarrhoea and constipation
- Belching
- Nausea
- Feeling unusually full after meals
- Difficulty tolerating some fermentable or high-fibre foods
In more significant or longstanding cases, SIBO may also interfere with nutrient absorption.
However, these symptoms are not specific to SIBO, and having them does not necessarily mean bacterial overgrowth is present.
A healthy small intestine relies on coordinated muscular contractions, known as the migrating motor complex (MMC), to keep bacterial levels low. Disruption of this process due to factors such as infection, chronic constipation, surgery, low stomach acid can contribute to SIBO.
How Do You Test for SIBO?
A hydrogen and methane breath test is commonly used to investigate suspected SIBO.
After following the preparation instructions and fasting overnight, you take an initial baseline breath sample.
You then drink a measured solution of either lactulose or glucose.
Further breath samples are collected at regular intervals, usually over approximately three hours.
The samples are analysed for hydrogen and methane. The levels and timing of these gases can help indicate whether bacterial fermentation may be occurring within the small intestine and whether intestinal methanogen overgrowth may be present.
What Does a SIBO Breath Test Measure?
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is produced when bacteria ferment carbohydrates.
An early rise in hydrogen during breath testing may support a diagnosis of SIBO and is commonly associated with bloating, gas and diarrhoea.
Methane
Methane is produced by methanogens rather than bacteria.
Elevated methane is referred to as Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth (IMO) and is particularly associated with constipation and slower intestinal transit.
[Read more about methane SIBO symptoms and Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth.
Hydrogen Sulphide
Hydrogen sulphide is another gas produced by intestinal microorganisms.
Research suggests that elevated hydrogen sulphide may be associated with diarrhoea and sulphur-smelling gas.
How Is a SIBO Breath Test Carried Out?
The SIBO breath test is a simple, non-invasive test that can be completed at home.
Before a SIBO breath test, you are asked to follow a low-fermentation preparation diet for the day before testing.
The preparation diet allows plain white rice, eggs, plain chicken or fish, and clear water. Foods that ferment more readily in the gut are usually avoided, including fruit, vegetables, beans, lentils, wholegrains, high-fibre foods, dairy products and foods containing added sugars or sweeteners.
You will then need to fast overnight for 12 hours, drinking only water, before beginning the breath test the following morning.
After an overnight fast, you take a baseline breath sample before drinking a measured lactulose or glucose solution. We offer both. You then collect additional breath samples at regular intervals, usually over 3 hours.
The samples are analysed for hydrogen and methane gases. The pattern and timing of these gases can help indicate whether SIBO or intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO) may be present.
How Long Do SIBO Test Results Take?
Once your completed breath test has been received by the laboratory, results are usually available within 2–3 working days.
We will send you a copy of your results as soon as they are available.
How much is a SIBO Test?
Our SIBO breath test is £169 including postage within the UK. If you would like to order a test, please contact send us an e-mail
We also offer support for individuals who have previously undergone SIBO treatment but continue to experience symptoms, including those with suspected motility issues, biofilm-related resistance, or recurrent overgrowth.
What is the difference between the Lactulose and Glucose Breath test when testing for SIBO?
Both lactulose and glucose can be used for SIBO breath testing, and each has advantages and limitations.
Lactulose
Lactulose is not absorbed in the small intestine, so it travels throughout the small bowel before reaching the colon.
This may help detect bacterial fermentation occurring further down the small intestine.
However, in people with rapid intestinal transit, lactulose may reach the colon earlier than expected. This can sometimes make the results more difficult to interpret.
Glucose
Glucose is absorbed earlier in the small intestine.
This can reduce the effect of fermentation in the colon, but it may also mean that bacterial overgrowth occurring further down the small intestine is missed.
Neither test is perfect, so results should be considered alongside symptoms, bowel habits and medical history.
Is a SIBO Breath Test Accurate?
Breath testing is widely used because it is non-invasive and relatively straightforward to carry out.
However, no breath test is completely accurate.
Both lactulose and glucose testing can produce false-positive and false-negative results.
Transit time, test preparation, medications and the type of test solution used can all influence the result.
For this reason, a SIBO breath-test result is best interpreted alongside the patient’s symptoms and clinical history.
If my results have a flat-line could this still mean I have a bacterial overgrowth?
There is a still a lot of research to be done but it appears that for some patients there is a third gas called Hydrogen Sulfide that may be linked to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. This test should be available in the UK shortly.
What Happens If the Test Is Positive?
A positive result should be considered alongside your symptoms, bowel habits and medical history.
It can also be useful to consider possible factors that may have contributed to the overgrowth, such as:
- Slow intestinal motility
- Previous gastrointestinal infections
- Constipation
- Medication use
- Previous surgery
- Other gastrointestinal conditions
A consultation can be arranged if you would like help interpreting the results and considering appropriate next steps.
Where prescription treatment is required we can refer you to a private GP.
What is the cost of a Hydrogen breath test?
The cost of a test for SIBO is £169.
Can the Hydrogen Breath test be conducted at Home?
The Hydrogen test kit can easily be conducted at home, we ship all over the UK.
We also have a clinic in Harley Street in central London. One of our team can also make home visits if you prefer.
What happens when my results are ready?
The results take approximately three days and as soon as they are ready we will e-mail them to you.
Do you have SIBO Specialists?
Once your results are back, our SIBO specialist that will discuss your individual treatment plan. You will receive tailored recommendations based on any predisposing factors that may be contributing to the condition. This will include herbal treatment and dietary changes.
What Medications must I avoid before SIBO testing?
- Antibiotics: usually avoid for 4 weeks before the test
- Laxatives: may need to be stopped for around 1 week
- Prokinetics: may also need to be stopped for around 1 week
- Probiotics/prebiotics: recommendations vary, so follow the laboratory instructions
- Fibre supplements: often stopped before testing
- Opioid painkillers: can affect gut transit and may influence results
- PPIs such as omeprazole: do not stop unless specifically advised
- Important: never stop prescribed medication without checking with your doctor or prescribing healthcare professional
Is SIBO the same as IBS?
No. SIBO and IBS are different conditions, although they can cause very similar symptoms.
Both can be associated with bloating, excess wind, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation and changes in bowel habits, which means it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between them based on symptoms alone.
Research suggests that SIBO is found more frequently in people with IBS than in people without IBS, although estimates vary considerably depending on the type of breath test and diagnostic criteria used. Some studies have also found higher rates of SIBO in people with diarrhoea-predominant IBS (IBS-D).
If you have been diagnosed with IBS but continue to experience persistent bloating, excessive gas, abdominal discomfort or altered bowel habits, SIBO testing may be one investigation worth considering.
In my clinical experience, a proportion of clients with persistent IBS-type symptoms subsequently receive a positive SIBO breath-test result. However, SIBO is only one possible explanation for ongoing digestive symptoms, and test results should always be considered alongside your symptoms, medical history and other appropriate investigations.
Does the NHS test for SIBO?
SIBO breath testing is available through some NHS gastroenterology services, but it is not routinely offered to everyone diagnosed with IBS, so some people choose to arrange testing privately as wait-times can be lengthy.
How do I order a test?
Our SIBO breath test is £169 including postage within the UK. If you would like to order a test, please contact us
Do you have questions or would to see how we can assist you?
References
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US National Library of Medicine – Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Comprehensive Review.
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Springer Link – Effects of Rifaximin Treatment and Retreatment in Nonconstipated IBS Subjects.
US National Library of Medicine – Herbal Therapy Is Equivalent to Rifaximin for the Treatment of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth.
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