Every person’s gut is unique, and testing is never one-size-fits-all. These are the tests I most often use to get clear, actionable insights for healing, but your plan will always be tailored to your health history, symptoms, and needs.
If you have been struggling with ongoing gut symptoms, you have probably noticed there are a lot of tests out there. Food allergy panels, intolerance tests, bloods, stool samples, breath tests. It is enough to make your head spin.
In clinic, I like to keep things clear, targeted, and effective. I do not run every test under the sun. Instead, I focus on a few that give us the most useful insights to guide your personalised gut-healing plan.
1. SIBO Breath Test
SIBO, or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, happens when bacteria that normally live in the large intestine start growing in the small intestine. This can contribute to bloating, distention, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, and food sensitivities.
The SIBO breath test measures the hydrogen and methane gases you exhale after drinking a sugar solution. In our clinic, we use a more advanced approach that includes lactulose, glucose, and fructose to capture a fuller picture.
Why it matters: If we do not rule out SIBO, you can do all the right things for your gut health and still feel stuck. Treatment for SIBO is often very different from general gut-healing support, so this test helps us target the right approach.
2. Gut Microbiome Stool Testing
Your microbiome is like an ecosystem. A healthy gut is diverse and balanced, but if certain species are overgrown or missing altogether, it can contribute to symptoms ranging from IBS to skin issues, hormone imbalances, low mood, and fatigue.
A comprehensive gut microbiome stool test can help assess:
- Beneficial versus opportunistic bacteria balance
- Pathogens, parasites, or fungi that should not be there
- Inflammation and digestion markers
- How well the gut supports detoxification and metabolism
Why it matters: This test gives us a map of your gut so we can see what is happening beneath the surface. It helps personalise your plan, whether that includes probiotics, antimicrobials, nutritional support, or a deeper repair focus.
3. Intestinal Permeability Test
Your gut lining acts as a barrier, keeping nutrients in while blocking toxins and unwanted particles from slipping into the bloodstream. When it weakens, often called leaky gut, it can contribute to inflammation, food sensitivities, autoimmune patterns, and more.
The Lactulose:Mannitol urine test is considered the gold standard for assessing intestinal permeability. It tells us whether the gut lining is compromised and whether malabsorption may also be involved.
Why it matters: If your gut barrier is not functioning well, you can keep reacting no matter how many supplements or diets you try. This test helps us know when gut repair needs to be a priority.
What About Food Allergy or Intolerance Testing?
I get asked about this a lot. Tests like IgE and IgG panels can be useful in certain cases, but I usually reserve them for later, if at all.
IgE testing measures immediate reactions such as hives, swelling, or anaphylaxis. It is medically recognised, but blood tests can still show sensitisation or false positives. A detailed case history, and sometimes an oral food challenge, remains the gold standard.
IgG testing measures delayed responses where symptoms may appear hours or days later. It can help guide elimination or rotation diets in some chronic or complex cases, but elevated levels may reflect exposure or tolerance rather than a true intolerance.
The key point is that both IgE and IgG are tools, not stand-alone diagnoses. They should be interpreted alongside your history, symptoms, and gut-focused investigations to avoid unnecessary restriction.
My Approach
You do not need to do every test to get started. During a 1:1 consult, we can discuss which investigations are most relevant for you. Or, if you already know which tests you want, you can explore our consult and testing packages and testing bundles.
Written by Naturopath Chae
