FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – SEATTLE, WA
FAQs (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
We analyze patient samples on the same day they arrive at our laboratory. A report is then generated, which will be delivered to the ordering provider either at the end of the day that the samples arrive or, at the latest, early in the morning on the following business day.
Yes, if you are local and would like to drop off your samples, you are welcome to do so. Please be aware that samples must arrive no later than 2:00 PM Pacific time to ensure that they are analyzed on the same day. Our office closes for deliveries at 4:30 PM Pacific time, so please make sure to arrive before we close for the day.
Results are typically available 1-2 days sooner if a patient drops their samples off in person rather than shipping them back. How much sooner depends on the time it takes for return shipping from your location.
Yes, if you are local and would like to pick up your SIBO test kit, you are welcome to do so. Please be aware, however, that you must contact us at least one hour in advance to let us know that you prefer to pick up your test rather receive it in the mail. This time is required for us to prepare your kit and have it ready for you when you arrive. Please be aware that we cannot provide test kits to patients without an order from your provider’s office on file. This is also why it’s important to contact us beforehand if you prefer to pick up your test kit. Our office closes at 4:30 PM Pacific time, so please make sure to arrive before we close for the day.
By default, all reports are automatically sent to the ordering provider. If you would like a copy of your results, please contact us, and we’ll be happy to send you a copy as well. We can send your report by email, mail, or fax.
At this time, SIBO testing is only available to be performed in the patient’s home. We are, however, available to you, by phone, should you need clarification or support before or during your test.
We are contracted with most commercial insurance plans, and almost all of them provide some or complete coverage for our SIBO test. To find out what your coverage will be for your SIBO test, please review our Cost and Insurance Coverage information here, and then call the customer service number on your insurance card and provide the customer service agent with all of the specific information listed in the Cost and Insurance Coverage section of our website. If you need additional assistance or clarification, please don’t hesitate to call us, and we’ll be glad to assist you.
No, Medicare does not cover breath testing to diagnose SIBO. Medicare only provides coverage for breath testing for a few clinical conditions, but unfortunately, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO) is not one.
Yes, you can continue to take this medication while preparing for your SIBO test. Many commonly prescribed antacids or proton pump inhibitors contain magnesium, but the amount of magnesium present in these medications is too low to impact your gut motility. It is, therefore, ok to continue to take these medications when preparing for your test.
Taking Gas-X or simethicone will not interfere with your SIBO test. You may continue to use this medication if preparing for your test.
In general, we recommend that you avoid any medication that can increase or decrease gut motility when preparing for your SIBO test. Linzess (linaclotide) has been shown to increase gut motility, and therefore, we recommend you discontinue this medication for one week prior to your test. If you anticipate this will be an issue, please discuss this with your provider.
In general, we recommend that you avoid any medication that can increase or decrease gut motility when preparing for your SIBO test. Imodium has been shown to reduce gut motility, and therefore, we recommend you discontinue this medication for one week prior to your test. If you anticipate this will be an issue, please discuss this with your provider.
Stool bulking agents, also known as stool bulking laxatives, refers to a class of dietary supplements that increases the absorption of water in the small intestine, thereby creating a laxative effect in the gut. Common stool bulking agents include: Benefiber, Metamucil, Citrucel, FiberCon, and products that contain psyllium husk. Because laxatives supplements can interfere with your SIBO test, you should discontinue these supplements 1 week prior to your test.
Yes, if you are experiencing, or anticipate experiencing, nausea prior to or during your test, you may take this medication.
Magnesium at high doses can increase the speed with which foods pass through your gut. For this reason, we recommend that your total daily magnesium dosage from medications or supplements be under 300 mg/day. A higher dosage could increase gut motility and potentially lead to a false positive test result.
Yes, suppository use for constipation will not interfere with your test.
If you normally take medication in the morning, and if the medication is not one listed in the SIBO test kit instructions as a medication that you should avoid when preparing for this test, then you may take your medications in the morning. We would recommend that you take them with the lactulose or glucose solution at the time you begin your test to avoid consuming excess liquid prior to testing.
It has been shown that probiotic use can interfere with this the SIBO test and could lead to a false positive test result. In an abundance of caution, we recommend that you also avoid probiotic foods 1 week prior to your test. Examples of probiotic foods to avoid include: yogurt, buttermilk, cottage cheese, tempeh, sauerkraut, miso soup, kimchi, kombucha, and pickles. If you accidentally eat a small amount of one of these foods during the week prior to your test, you can still go ahead and test. However, if you consume any of these foods in large quantities or on a daily basis, we do recommend that you delay your test until these foods can be avoided for 1 week.
If you are going to consume hard cheese, we recommend that you consume Parmesan cheese only. Commonly used cheeses such as cheddar, provolone, and Swiss are considered semi-hard cheeses and should be avoided. You should also avoid softer cheeses such as Monterey, Colby, and cottage cheeses.
You can prepare your eggs however you like as long as you only use salt, pepper, or oil in your seasoning or preparation.
In general any pure bread (without seeds, nuts, or multiple grains) with a high glycemic index would be considered a type of bread that may be consumed while on the restrictive diet. Some examples of “white bread” that may be consumed while on the restrictive diet include: while flour bread, baguette (white), sandwich white bread, rice cake, rice biscuits, rolls may from wheat flour, crackers (such as Ritz crackers or Saltines), plain white bagel. High glycemic index breads are rapidly absorbed and clear the gut quickly so that no carbohydrates remain in your gut at the time of the test as a result of consuming these foods.
No. You should not eat or drink anything on the day or your test. If you have a medical condition that requires you to drink water frequently, then you may a few small sips of water prior to your test but should avoid drinking large quantities as this could influence the way the sugar solution passes through your GI tract during your test. Once you begin your test, you should not eat or drink anything until you’ve collected all 10 samples.
If you are collecting your breath in a quiet place, you may hear a small, rapid hiss when the sample tube is punctured by the needle within the breath collector as air is rapidly drawn into, and captured inside, the sample tube. You will not see condensation from your breath inside the tube after your breath has been captured. There is little feedback from the breath collection system to indicate that your breath was capture successfully. However, if you followed the breath collection instructions carefully, you can be assured that your breath was captured.