• Gas: excessive wind or flatulence after dairy consumption.
• Bloating: abdominal distension following lactose-containing foods.
• Diarrhoea: loose stools triggered by milk or dairy products.
• Cramping: abdominal discomfort shortly after eating lactose.
• Nausea: unsettled stomach associated with dairy intake.
• Suspected lactose malabsorption: difficulty tolerating milk, yoghurt, ice cream or soft cheeses.
• Post-infectious symptoms: digestive changes after gastrointestinal infection.
• Coeliac disease history: exploring lactose tolerance during gut recovery.
• Inflammatory bowel disease history: assessing tolerance to lactose-containing foods.
• Post-surgical digestive changes: reduced absorption following gastrointestinal surgery.

Overview

The Breath Test for Lactose Malabsorption/Intolerance measures hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) in exhaled breath following ingestion of a lactose substrate. These gases are produced when undigested lactose is fermented by colonic bacteria, offering indirect information about how effectively lactose is digested and absorbed in the small intestine.

This assessment may relate to symptoms such as gas, bloating, diarrhoea, cramping, nausea or digestive discomfort after consuming dairy products. It may also support practitioners when exploring lactose tolerance in individuals recovering from gastrointestinal infections, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease or gastrointestinal surgery.

Practitioners typically interpret results alongside symptom history, food diaries, dietary patterns, timing of reactions, lifestyle factors and information shared by clients. This supports a clearer understanding of how lactose digestion and tolerance may align with reported symptoms.

Practical

Specimen

Breath

Container

• Vacuum-sealed collection tubes

Patient preparation

• Requires fasting 12 hours prior to collection
• This test will take 3 hours to complete
  
• Preparation for the test starts 2-4 weeks before collection ( Please check sample collection instructions)

Please note this test will take 3 hours to complete.