Description
Purpose of the Test:
• Diagnose lactose intolerance or other disaccharidase deficiencies
• Detect carbohydrate malabsorption conditions
• Investigate chronic diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal discomfort
• Evaluate symptoms in infants such as failure to thrive or acidic stools
What the Test Involves:
• A fresh stool sample is collected in a sterile container.
• The sample is tested using a chemical method (commonly Benedict’s test) to detect the presence of reducing sugars.
• The result is usually reported as positive or negative, and may also be graded based on sugar concentration.
