How to Test for IBS Root Causes
We have previously talked about the 5 most common root causes of IBS and how you can have one, or more commonly, multiple triggers from the list. And while the exact root cause, or combination of causes, is unique to each person with ‘IBS’, in this post I wanted to share with you how to test for IBS and the gold-standard options for those top five root causes as it stands in 2018. I truly hope that this post gives you all the information you need to request accurate IBS testing for a condition that is very treatable and should NOT be ruining your life. Let’s get into it!
Here is a summary of what we are going to cover:
> Why you need to test, not guess when it comes to IBS.
> How to test for IBS using gold-standard options for the most common root causes.
> How to figure out which IBS testing you need and why your practitioner might request multiple tests (hint, it has to do with increasing the likelihood of you beating IBS permanently).
> Why I like to use the GI Map Stool Test as a great starting point for IBS clients.
Why do I need IBS testing?
By now, you’re crystal clear that many of the root cause conditions of IBS have a lot of overlapping symptoms. Which is part of the reason why all of these different conditions have been thought of as one single thing, "IBS" (irritable bowel syndrome), for so long. And while we haven’t touched on treatment yet, the critical point here is that all these conditions need to be treated in a different way, particularly when it comes to the right diet and the right supplements. Again, this is one of the reasons why clinical trials looking for a one-size-fits-all treatment for IBS always fail. IBS is not one condition, and there is not one treatment. So how do we figure out the underlying root cause of our own IBS symptoms? Test, don’t guess! Functional lab tests, that is. And while there are countless other tests you can do in more complex cases, here are my four go-to IBS tests that cover-off the 5 most common root causes of IBS we have covered previously.
IBS Test #1A - GI Map Stool Test / Complete Microbiome Mapping (PCR / DNA)
What are we testing for?
There are a whole range of markers on a stool test that help us get a really clear idea about what is going on inside your large intestine that may be contributing to your IBS symptoms. But a stool test also gives us clues about other parts of the digestive system, like the stomach, small intestine, liver, gall-bladder and pancreas. This is why I like my clients to start with a simple one-day sample stool test, that they can do at home. But most importantly, a stool test gives us information about whether you have a dysbiosis - imbalance of good, bad and commensal bacteria in the large intestine, and/or a gut infection such as those caused by parasites, bacteria, viruses, worms and yeast/fungus.
The GI Map by Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory (or Complete Microbiome Mapping as it is called in Australia), is the latest evolution of comprehensive DNA stool testing, using PCR technology. Before this testing was available locally in Australia, I would use a GI Map on many of my IBS clients whose symptoms remained despite a 'clean' CDSA stool test (see #1B below) and I was amazed at the number of pathogens and elevated markers that showed up on the GI Map to further inform our healing approach.
What are the key markers and what do they mean?
There are three broad categories of markers that we look at on a GI Map to identify healing opportunities for IBS. These are pathogenic species, beneficial gut flora and intestinal health markers.
> Pathogenic species: whether these are identified in 'high' numbers or are simply 'detectable', pathogenic species are almost always something we need to address. These include parasites, worms, H. pylori, viruses, pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria, yeast/fungus.
> Beneficial gut flora: this section gives us clues about the overall abundance and diversity of your 'good' gut bacteria (microbiome).
> Intestinal health markers: these provide information about 'digestive fire', inflammation, your immune function and a helpful 'leaky gut' marker (zonulin).
GI Map Test Result - Example Extract (USA)
GI Map Test DNA Stool DSL
Complete Microbiome Mapping Test Result - Front Page Summary (Australia)
Complete Microbiome Mapping Test Stool DNA Nutripath GI Map Australia
IBS Test #1B - Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA / Microscope + PCR / DNA)
What are we testing for?
As with the GI Map, a CDSA stool test is the first step for a lot of IBS sufferers to identify the underlying root cause of their symptoms, including gut infections and microbiome dysbiosis. This was previously my go-to stool test, before the GI Map was released. This lab has a small component that is PCR (DNA technology) but the majority is done with a microscope (CDSA) and is therefore not typically as sensitive or accurate in identifying GI pathogens. I no longer use this form of testing on a regular basis, and use the GI Map as my preferred alternative.
What are the key markers and what do they mean?
There are two parts to stool testing that are important for detecting the root causes of IBS. First up is the PCR analysis. Science has made great headways and now we have really accurate PCR (Ploymerase Chain Reaction), or DNA/RNA testing, which looks for the proteins of pathogenic (bad) parasites and bacteria in the stool. This approach is gold standard and way more accurate than the traditional approach of using a microscope. From the PCR component of the test we can see whether you have a gut infection, as shown in the image below: ‘Blastocystis species detected’.
The next part of the stool test that is important for detecting the root cause of your IBS is the Beneficial Bacteria Count, Other Bacteria and Yeasts from the CDSA, or microscopic analysis. These sections of the CDSA test tells us whether or not you have a dysbiosis, as well as any other gut infections from parasites, bacteria and yeast/fungus.
You can see in the image below that beneficial bacteria ‘Lactobacilli’, an essential species for the microbiome of the large intestine, is low. We can also see that Other Bacteria have been detected, ‘Klebsiella’ and other un-named species. This means we have not enough of the good guys and too many of the bad guys - a dysbiosis. Added on top of this, we can see ‘Candida albicans’ and ‘Other Yeasts’ detected. These yeasts are considered a gut infection because they have overgrown in the large intestine, most likely as a result of the parasite and dysbiosis. Overall, the parasite, lack of good bacteria, overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria and yeast all contribute in a negative way and are highly correlated with IBS symptoms.
PCR Test Result - Example Extract
How to Test for IBS CDSA PCR Stool Test Result
CDSA Test Result - Example Extract
How to Test for IBS CDSA Stool Test Result
IBS Test #2 - Lactulose and/or Glucose Breath Test
What are we testing for?
We use a breath test to identify SIBO. I’ve written a separate post on SIBO testing, so there is a lot more information about breath testing there, but here’s the abbreviated version. SIBO is an overgrowth of bacteria, good or bad, in the small intestine. SIBO is highly correlated with bloating (as quickly as 20 minutes after a meal), constipation, diarrhea, gas and abdominal cramps/pain or gurgling. The current gold standard test we use to detect SIBO is the two to three hour lactulose and/or glucose breath test. For both, you take a baseline breath sample, drink a lactulose or glucose solution, then take further breath samples every 15-20 minutes for two to three hours (depending on the lab used). Very easy and can be done at home. If overgrown bacteria are present, they will ferment the lactulose or glucose and produce hydrogen or methane gas, which we can detect and measure in your breath to work out whether you have SIBO, and how large the overgrowth is.
What are the key markers and what do they mean?
With breath testing, interpretation of results isn’t always black and white. With that in mind, here are the key measurements (but not all) we are looking for that may indicate an overgrowth in the small intestine:
Lactulose Breath Test:
> A rise of 20ppm in hydrogen above baseline within 90-120 minutes - Hydrogen Dominant SIBO.
> A rise of 12ppm in methane above baseline within 90-120 minutes - Methane Dominant SIBO.
> A combined rise in hydrogen and methane of 15ppm above baseline within 90-120 minutes - Mixed SIBO.
> Elevated baseline methane level that remains high (above 12ppm) - Methane Dominant LIBO (Large Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth) or potential H.pylori infection.
> Flat-lining (below 3-4) of both hydrogen and methane gas for the entire duration of the test period - Suggestive of Hydrogen Sulfide SIBO.
Glucose Breath Test:
> A rise of 12ppm in hydrogen or methane within 90-120 minutes - Hydrogen/Methane/Mixed SIBO.
Lactulose Breath Test Result (SIBO Test) - Example Extract
Constipation Methane SIBO Test
IBS Test #3 - Intestinal Permeability Urine Test
What are we testing for?
This next test also focusses on what is happening in the small intestine. Particularly with the intestinal wall, where most of our nutrition is absorbed and all of the ‘bad’ undigested food, pathogens and toxins (macromolecules) are kept away from our blood-stream. We are interested in the integrity of the intestinal wall, and are trying to identify whether it is hyperpermeable (leaky) or not. This is commonly known as a ‘leaky gut’ test, and you can find out more about Leaky Gut in a separate post here. We use a simple urine test where you drink a lactulose and mannitol solution, then collect all urine for the next six hours at home.
I no longer run this lab as a standard IBS test as I prefer to use the zonulin marker included on the GI Map stool test.
What are the key markers and what do they mean?
We use a urine test to measure the ability of these two sugar molecules, Lactulose and Mannitol, to permeate the intestinal lining. But first, it is important to understand the two ways in which your gut can be ‘leaky’:
Particles moving through your damaged epithelial cells (transcellular)
Particles moving between the loosened tight junctions that hold your epithelial cells together (paracellular)
There are three things we are looking for that will explain the ‘phase’ or ‘type’ of leaky gut you have:
Mannitol Recovery: Mannitol is a mini sugar molecule and can move through the epithelial cells easily (transcellular uptake), making it a great marker for the health of cells. Increased or decreased transcellular uptake indicates damaged villi and microvilli, malnutrition from not absorbing nutrients and other associated conditions.
Lactulose Recovery: Lactulose is a large sugar molecule and is a good marker to see whether the tight junctions between the cells are tight or leaky. Increased levels of lactulose are bad and indicate permeability through the intestinal lining between the cells due to loosened tight junctions, leading to maldigestion, malabsorption and malnutrition.
Lactulose:Mannitol Ratio: The lactulose:mannitol ratio is a secondary marker for leaky gut and is only used as an indicator when there is nothing to note from the above two measures. This ratio comes into play in the early stages of leaky gut, when one number is elevated compared to another which means things are starting to head in the direction of being leaky in the future.
Intestinal Permeability Test Result - Example Extract
Leaky Gut Intestinal Permeability Test Example
IBS Test #4 - IgG Food Sensitivity Dry Blood Spot Tests
What are we testing for?
Sadly, food sensitivities are estimated to affect up to 40% of the population and commonly cause IBS symptoms. Because food sensitivities are dose-dependent and often have delayed symptom onset, identifying them through an elimination diet can be challenging. So I like to use an IgG mediated immune response test as an initial screener. You complete this test by taking a finger-prick blood sample collected at home to help identify the foods that may be causing or contributing to your symptoms. I do want to make a quick note about food sensitivity testing and say that there is currently no perfect test, however an IgG mediated immune response is a good place to start for identifying food triggers, reducing inflammation and eliminating IBS-symptoms.
What are the key markers and what do they mean?
The IgG panel covers 96 foods and measures the level of IgG mediated immune response produced when exposed to the proteins in the food being tested. Basically, any reaction higher than a level three should be avoided for a minimum of three months to reduce inflammation and give the gut lining space to heal.
IgG Food Sensitivity Test Result - Example Extract
IgG Food Sensitivity Test Example
So what IBS testing do I need?
So, how does your practitioner choose which IBS test is right for you? The simple answer is: that’s what they studied for. The longer answer is that:
The symptoms you have and don’t have are the best (but not perfect) clues about which IBS test you need; and
Some tests can be considered first-line or screening tests, like the GI Map, that help determine what further testing might be required.
For both of these reasons, you might need more than one IBS test, either initially, or as you learn more about the imbalances you have. Some clients like to take a comprehensive approach and do all the appropriate tests at once, while others prefer to take a slower, more progressive approach. As with most things, there are pros and cons to both approaches, it’s why no two healing journeys are the same. But the important thing to remember is- test, don’t guess. Because if you’re guessing, just based on symptoms, you’re likely going to waste a lot of time and money trying to fix things that don’t need to be fixed before you finally hit on the key underlying conditions or imbalances causing your symptoms.
The other benefit of IBS testing is that it gives you a baseline measure to compare subsequent re-tests. That way, when you remove a gut infection, for example, and start to feel better, you can confirm it’s no longer in your system with follow-up testing and be confident in knowing it’s all gone.
So now we know all there is to get us started with IBS testing, we can request the right tests, get our results and move onto treatment - which is covered in more detail in this blog post. I find testing super motivating because it gives you something really clear to work on. I hope you can easily use the content of this blog as a part of your IBS healing journey. And I know you know this, but I’m going to say it anyway; your health is worth it.
If you want to learn more about how to test for IBS, please head to the Work With Us page to learn more about how we work online with clients in many countries to test for and treat the various root causes of IBS symptoms and other GI conditions.