What is the SIBO-IMO ?
SIBO (“small intestinal bacterial overgrowth”) and IMO (“intestinal methanogen overgrowth”) are abnormal overgrowths of microorganisms, characterized by an excessive number of bacteria and/or archaea in the intestine. The pathological excess of these microorganisms can be asymptomatic or, in most cases, cause digestive disorders with malabsorption (of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and vitamins) and symptoms such as diarrhea and/or constipation, bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain, and sometimes even tiredness, brain fog, and anxiety. Predisposing factors are generally related to anatomical or functional abnormalities. As a result, SIBO can occur in many conditions affecting our health.
Who are the patients concerned?
Anyone with undiagnosed digestive symptoms. Most often, it is patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), also known as functional bowel disorder, who develop SIBO and/or IMO. Certain conditions can also predispose to these overgrowths. The conditions in question are generally diseases that affect the physiology of our body:
- Gastric acidity disorders (the bacteria we ingest are not killed)
- Digestive motility disorders (the bacteria that colonize us stagnate and do not reach the colon)
- Anatomical anomalies such as obstructions, adhesions, etc. (bacteria get trapped and multiply in the wrong place)
- Immunodeficiency (bacteria are not targeted and eliminated)
- Treatments that could alter the natural physiological mechanisms of our body
Whether SIBO/IMO is simply the cause of symptoms or occurs alongside another condition, managing it can improve patients’ quality of life by limiting and/or eliminating certain symptoms.
How is this breathing test done?
The procedure for this breath test involves blowing into an instrument at precise times before and after ingesting sugar diluted in water. The bacteria that help digest sugars become active as soon as the ingested sugar reaches the intestine. During this digestion, also called bacterial fermentation, gases such as hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are produced and will then be exhaled after passing through the digestive membrane to reach the lungs through our bloodstream. The breath test is a functional test that allows the measurement of these gases in order to determine the presence of abnormal bacterial overgrowth in the intestine.
Our laboratory is accredited for this test and equipped with the Quintron instrument that measures hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide (CO2). The test lasts 3 hours and requires prior preparation, including a diet for 24 to 48 hours, a fasting period, and also adherence to certain guidelines designed to minimize the risk of diagnostic errors, including false positives and false negatives.
The recommendations will be provided to you following your order or appointment.
If the instructions are not followed, the test cannot be carried out.
How do you take this breathing test?
The test can be carried out in a laboratory or at home for eligible individuals (persons who have no contraindications for performing the test alone and without supervision).
First, an eligibility questionnaire must be completed to determine whether the test can be offered to you at home or if it is preferable to take it in a laboratory with a technician. For people who have the option to do it on-site or at home, they can choose, according to their preference, to take the test in our laboratory at locations equipped with the Quintron device or at home by sending the kit and returning the samples by postal mail. For the home exam, it will not be necessary for you to go to the laboratory; the essential documents for registering your file should be submitted directly on the platform when you place your order. For individuals taking the test on-site in the laboratory, your file will be created on the day of your appointment, and the documents must be provided on that same day before your test begins.
The documents and information required to complete a file are as follows:
- Health insurance card
- Supplementary health insurance
- Prescription (scan only or PDF format)
- Date of birth
- A phone number to reach you if necessary
- A postal address where you want your kit to be sent (for home addresses)
The documents listed above can be sent in JPEG, PNG, or PDF formats. For the prescription, it is preferable to use a scan or PDF. Without a prescription at the time of your registration, the social security and mutual insurance contributions will need to be paid. (only for patients with social insurance in France, if you are not in this case, the analysis will need to be paid for and an invoice will be provided to you)
Les sites sur lesquels vous pouvez vous rendre pour passer le test sont les suivants :
In the PACA Region
- Laboratoire Biogroup Provence Européen (13003)
1 Rue Melchior Guinot
13003 Marseille
04 13 42 81 00 ou 04 91 99 41 63 - Laboratoire Sorgues (Biosantis)
104 avenue Marcel Pagnol
84700 Sorgues
Outside the PACA Region
- Laboratoire de La Redoute SELAS EIMER
8A Boulevard Hanauer
67500 Haguenau
03 88 93 62 62
An appointment is required to carry out this test in the laboratory. For the home test, the kit must be ordered online directly on our website https://www.ibiote.com/
What you need to know?
- An appointment (laboratory test) or an online order (home test) is essential
- The test lasts 3 hours
- Failure to follow the exam preparation instructions may skew the results or make the test uninterpretable
- The test is partially covered by social security (except for methane, CH4)
- The health insurance card, the supplementary insurance, and the doctor’s prescription are required for coverage of the social security and supplementary insurance portions.