The Lactose Intolerance Test is a diagnostic procedure used to determine if a person has difficulty digesting lactose, the sugar found in milk and dairy products.
Purpose of the Procedure
This test helps diagnose lactose intolerance, which can cause symptoms such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea after consuming dairy products.
Procedure
- The patient fasts for 8-12 hours before the test.
- A baseline blood sample is taken to measure glucose levels.
- The patient drinks a liquid containing a standard amount of lactose.
- Blood samples are taken at intervals over 2 hours to measure glucose levels.
- In some cases, a hydrogen breath test may be performed instead of or in addition to blood tests.
Note: Patients may experience symptoms of lactose intolerance during the test.
Benefits
- Helps confirm or rule out lactose intolerance
- Can guide dietary recommendations
- Relatively simple and straightforward procedure
- Results can lead to effective symptom management