Some of the hydrogen produced by bacteria is absorbed by intestinal mucosa whereby it enters the vasculature and is transported to the lungs. Hydrogen is then exhaled by the lungs by normal breathing. This is collected for subsequent analysis.
﹛﹛The breath hydrogen test is a highly sensitive and specific test to identify lactose malabsorption. Simple and noninvasive, this test is well tolerated by patients of all ages. Detectable increases in hydrogen arising from bacterial fermentation of undigested lactose show up in the breath within one to two hours after exposure.
﹛﹛Breath-hydrogen testing offers a reliable, non-invasive test for carbohydrate malabsorption, bacterial overgrowth and intestinal transit time.