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Gastrointestinal Function Laboratory
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Please note a referral letter is required before an appointment can be confirmed.
Useful Information
About our services
Common tests and procedures carried out in our Gastrointestinal Function Laboratory include:
- Urea breath test: this is a non-invasive test used to detect Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a type of bacteria that may infect the stomach and is a main cause of ulcers in both the stomach and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine).
- Static oesophageal manometry: this test measures the pressures in your oesophagus (food pipe) and the valve separating your stomach and oesophagus. A thin tube is passed through the nostril down the oesophagus to check whether the valve is correctly located and working properly and whether the oesophagus is transporting food into the stomach.
- Anorectal manometry: this is a test that measures how well the rectum and anal sphincters are working to eliminate faeces. A small flexible tube with a balloon on the end is inserted through the anal opening, past the anal sphincter before passing into the rectum where the balloon is inflated and measurements recorded.
- 24 Hour pH monitoring: this is a test that measures acid exposure in the oesophagus. It is normally carried out over a twenty-four hour period. Following oesophageal manometry, a ‘pH’ catheter is similarly passed into the stomach via the nose. The pH sensor is positioned in the lower end of the oesophagus by gently taping it to the nose and cheek. A portable pH recorder is used by the patient to monitor his / her activities. The patient then returns to the laboratory the next day to have the catheter removed.
