Welcome To SIBO Diagnostics
Digestive symptoms such as bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are often dismissed as “just IBS.” However, research and clinical experience have identified Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) as a major underlying cause of IBS symptoms.
We are proud to provide industry-leading testing, unrivaled physician support, and excellent customer service to clinics and their patients.
What Is SIBO?
SIBO occurs when bacteria that is supposed to exist in minute concentrations in the small intestine overpopulate. This can occur due to multiple reasons, but a main trigger is a food poisoning or traveller’s diarrhea event. These events can compromise the Migrating Motor Complex (MCC), which is the sweeping action of your intestines, moving food particles and waste along and out of the intestines. When the MCC is compromised, it slows down, reducing the effectiveness of this sweeping action, and allowing bacteria to stay in the small intestines, leading to overpopulation.
Bacteria naturally produce gases such as Hydrogen, Methane, and Hydrogen Sulfide when they feed. When these bacteria are allowed to overgrow, higher concentrations of these gases are released into the small intestine, which is not equipped for all that expansion, leading to uncomfortable symptoms such as bloating and cramping.
Common Symptoms of SIBO
• Bloating and distension
• Excessive gas and burping
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Constipation and/or diarrhea
• Nausea and heartburn.
Why Proper Testing Matters
Symptoms alone cannot confirm SIBO, since many digestive conditions share similar symptoms. Accurate diagnosis is essential before beginning treatment, as different types of bacterial overgrowth require different treatment approaches. Testing helps identify the severity and gas profile involved, leading to more efficient and effective treatment.
How SIBO Breath Testing Works
SIBO breath tests are provocation tests. Since the gastrointestinal bacteria ferment carbohydrates and produce gases, such as hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide, these gases can be measured through breath samples. After a 24 hour Preparation Diet low in fermentable fibres and sugars, and 12 hour fasting period, lactulose provides the substrate for the bacteria to ferment and break down. Gases are produced and exhaled through the lungs. In this manner, your breath sample can be analyzed for those SIBO-related gases to determine if you have SIBO, what kind, and in what concentrations. This data then informs any treatment by your referring physician.
What Patients Can Expect – QuinTron SIBO Test
- Your doctor provides you a SIBO test kit. (Or alternatively refers you to purchase directly – they must have a SIBO Diagnostics account and sign your specific test requisition.)
- Once you receive your kit, follow the preparation instructions included – this may include pausing antibiotics, colonics, probiotics or other supplements, laxatives, etc.
- 24 hours prior to test collection, you will do the Preparation Diet – this eliminates most fermentable carbohydrates for one day prior to testing.
- 12 hours before sample collection, you will begin fasting – for example, if you are testing at 8am, you will need to begin fasting at 8pm the night before.
- Morning of testing, following your instructions carefully, take your baseline sample right before drinking the Lactulose solution. Wait 20 minutes from finishing the lactulose before taking your second sample.
- You will collect 10 breath samples over 3 hours – one sample every 20 minutes. Ensure they are labelled correctly!
- Once test is completed, ship the samples and your completed Patient Record Form back to the lab. You’re done! Results will be available to your referring physician within 5 business days.
Testing Options with SIBO Diagnostics
QuinTron Lactulose Breath Test
- Assesses for Hydrogenic SIBO, Intestinal Methanogenic Overgrowth (IMO), and Methane-Induced Constipation.
- The Global Standard in SIBO testing.
TRIO-Smart® Lactulose Breath Test
- Assesses for Hydrogenic SIBO, Intestinal Methanogenic Overgrowth (IMO), and Hydrogen Sulfide Overgrowth.
- Provides a more comprehensive picture for complex cases.
IBS-Smart® Blood Test
- Assesses for validated biomarkers anti-vinculin and anti-CdtB.
- Helps determine post-infectious IBS.
Why Choose SIBO Diagnostics?
At SIBO Diagnostics, we believe that SIBO and IBS testing is more than just a set of tests. Our mission is to provide superior quality SIBO and IBS testing as well as clinical education services that assists Naturopathic and Medical Physicians and their patients.
We understand that without education and a proper understanding of physiology, treatment, and patient individuality, the end goal of optimal patient outcomes cannot be achieved. It is with this in mind that we have exclusively partnered with Dr. Preet Khangura ND, one of the leading SIBO experts in North America.
Testing with SIBO Diagnostics includes exclusive complimentary phone consultations with Dr. Khangura for ordering physicians, to discuss test results, treatment options, and challenging patient cases.
We are also the only SIBO laboratory in North America that offers the complete set of SIBO-related tests:
• QuinTron Lactulose Breath test
• TRIO-Smart® Lactulose Breath Test
• IBS-Smart® Blood Test.
Dr. Preet Khangura, ND is a fixture in the world of SIBO diagnosis, treatment, and education. His naturopathic medical practice is heavily focused on SIBO and its correlated conditions. He has pioneered treatment protocols and strives to share his knowledge with other doctors to help them achieve the best clinical outcomes possible.
Dr. Khangura also provides extensively researched and clinically relevant SIBO seminars/webinars to doctors across North America. In the last 5 years, he has had the pleasure to help educate more than 500 doctors on the details of SIBO and other gastrointestinal disorders. You can also find Dr. Khangura as a featured guest
on health podcasts and YouTube interviews.
Interested in learning whether SIBO may be contributing to your symptoms? Speak with your healthcare provider about SIBO breath testing through SIBO Diagnostics. We look forward to working with you!
