ORDER
Order and referral check
Order your test. We review the order and check whether a referral or other information is required before the next step can begin.
Practitioner grade
NutriPath
SIBO (small intestine bacteria) breath test, lactulose
NutriPath pathology testing
A breath test measuring hydrogen and methane after lactulose. Review the preparation and sample collection instructions before ordering.
About this test
SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is the condition where bacteria that should live in the large intestine colonise the small intestine instead. When these bacteria ferment food, they produce hydrogen and methane gases. Hydrogen driven SIBO is classically associated with diarrhoea and rapid onset bloating. Methane driven SIBO (more correctly IMO, intestinal methanogen overgrowth) is associated with constipation and slower but more persistent distention. The lactulose breath test captures both. You drink a measured lactulose solution, which normal bacteria cannot digest. If no bacteria are present in the small intestine, gases rise only after the solution reaches the large intestine at around 90 to 120 minutes. If bacteria are present in the small intestine, you see an earlier rise that confirms SIBO. The test takes about three hours and is completed entirely at home.
What it measures
- Hydrogen + Methane Combined
Test details
CollectionAt-home collection kit
LabNutriPath
When to expect your results
24 hours after the laboratory receives your sample
Allow additional time for order and referral checks, kit delivery, completing your collection and return postage. The laboratory estimate starts once your sample reaches the testing laboratory.
See the steps from order to results
Practitioner consult session
A 15-minute consultation. An email link will be included in your order confirmation to make the booking.
Optional 1:1 with our clinical team · $49
What it measures
Hydrogen + Methane Combined
Breath samples
Mixed SIBO is common and may require longer or combined treatment protocols.
Your testing journey
From your order to your results.
Order and referral review, sample collection, laboratory analysis and discussing your report are separate stages. Your test’s processing estimate covers the laboratory stage.
ARRANGE
Your kit is posted
Once the required checks are complete, your collection kit is posted to you. Delivery time is additional to laboratory processing. Read all instructions before you start.
COMPLETE
Collect and return
Complete the sample collection at home and return it using the supplied instructions. Allow time for preparation, any timed collections and return postage.
RESULTS
Laboratory processing
Once the laboratory receives your sample, it completes the analysis and prepares your report. Discuss the findings with your practitioner alongside your symptoms and health history.
Preparing for this test
Read the instructions supplied for your exact test before collecting. Check food, drink, medicines, timing, storage and return requirements with your practitioner. Do not stop prescribed medicines without advice.
Does the estimate include postage?
No. The laboratory estimate does not include order review, referral checks, delivery to you, the time you take to collect, or transport back to the testing laboratory. These stages make up the full order-to-results journey.
Need results by a particular date?
Check with Evergreen before ordering so the referral requirements, collection timing, delivery and laboratory estimate can be considered together.
Ask Evergreen about timingBefore you order.
Practical questions about choosing, preparing for and reviewing this test.
Do I need a consultation or referral?
Requirements vary by test. Check the ordering options on this page and confirm any referral requirements with Evergreen. A laboratory’s practitioner-referral requirement is separate from whether you need to book an additional consultation.
Should I change medicines or supplements before testing?
Do not stop prescribed medicines on your own. Tell your practitioner what you take and follow the preparation instructions for this test. Timing, fasting and other requirements depend on the sample and markers being measured.
Does the test tell me what treatment I need?
A result is one part of an assessment. A qualified practitioner should interpret it alongside your symptoms, history and medicines. Check whether a results consultation is included in your purchase or needs to be booked separately.
How should I read the reference ranges?
Use the reference intervals and units on your own laboratory report. Ranges can vary with the method and patient factors. A result inside or outside a range does not establish a diagnosis on its own.
Who is the testing provider?
These tests are supplied through NutriPath, a medical laboratory founded in 2011 and based in Burwood, Victoria. NutriPath works through a practitioner-referral system.
When does the turnaround estimate start?
The laboratory estimate is not the time from placing your order. Allow time for referral checks, kit dispatch where needed, sample collection and transport before processing. The estimate varies by test, and specialist or overseas analysis can take longer.
Follow the estimate for your specific test. A quoted 3–5 business days does not include the whole ordering and collection journey.
Where do I find preparation and collection instructions?
Use the instructions supplied for your exact kit. Blood tests may require an arranged collection appointment; receiving a kit does not mean you should draw blood yourself. Saliva, urine, stool and breath tests each have different preparation requirements.
Need help choosing?
Find a test that fits your question.
Compare the sample type and what each test measures, or use the guide to narrow your options.