“Breath Test” is a form of test that is performed on the air that is exhaled while breathing. There are various types and the most common one’s are as follows :

• • Hydrogen Breath Test ( HBT) : These are used by the clinicians as a medium for assessing various digestive disorders so that corrective actions could be taken to mitigate the factors causing the digestive issues such as Common food intolerances or Small Intestinal Bacterial growth. The test is very simple, non invasive and can be duly performed after a fasting of about 12 hours.
    In addition, it is becoming increasingly common for people to undertake a HBT for diagnosing dietary disabilities such as Sucrose Intolerance/Malabsorption, Fructose Intolerance / Malabsorbtion, Lacutulose intolerance and Lactose intolerance.Actually the test itself doesn’t diagnose ,but is left for a medical professional to interprete and analyse.
  • Breathalyzer : A very commonly practiced Breath Test that determines if a person is driving under the influence of alcohol or not.
  • The “Exhaled nitric oxide” is a breath test that can help one diagnose Airway Inflammation such as ‘Asthma’.
  • The “Urea Breath test” can be used to detect the presence of “Helicobacter pylori”, found commonly in Peptic ulcer. A patient needs to consult with a medical professional before undergoing any breath test. In case a patient is not able to stick to the guidelines for testing then the professional should assist them to determine if any other form of test, that doesn’t require these preparations could be conducted. Following are the Patient Preparation guidelines for various Breath Tests :

One has to completely abstain from Smoking or Second hand smoke for at least 1 hour before or when the test is being conducted.

No Vigorous exercise or sleeping for at least 1 hour before or when the breath test is being carried on.

In case a patient has been under Colonoscopy,Runny diarhhoea or antibiotic therapy recently, then he or she has to wait for at least 14 days before undergoing the breath test.

Before one starts with the breath test , a 24 hours preparation is required that consists of a 12 hour restricted diet and 12 hours fasting period.