Type I: Do not take the glucose test. You may take the lactulose test, which must be ordered by a healthcare provider with prescribing abilities.

Type II: Do not take medications the day of the test and start the test as early as possible in the morning. The lactulose test can be used but requires a lab order by a prescribing healthcare provider.

Lactulose is a man-made sugar that humans cannot digest, but SIBO bacteria love. It acts like a fertilizer for SIBO bugs. Drinking lactulose will not cause the same “sugar high” as sugars that humans can digest (like sucrose or fructose).

Lactulose also acts as a laxative, so some people may experience the effects of needing to use the restroom during the test. Some people may experience an increase in symptoms associated with SIBO activity (like bloating and gas).

Lactulose use requires authorization from a prescribing healthcare provider. Glucose can be ordered by any healthcare provider.

No. Lactose is the sugar from milk. Lactulose is man-made and has a completely different chemical makeup. However, the liquid lactulose solution that comes with the SIBO kit can contain up to 1.2 grams of lactose in it.

People who are allergic to or have severe lactose intolerance should ask their doctors if this test is right for them.

Most people with lactose intolerance tolerate lactulose due to only a trace amount of lactose present in the test sample.

Narcotics: Do not take these the day of the test

Laxatives (such as Metamucil, Dulcolax, Ex-Lax): Stop taking laxatives 4 days before taking the test. Laxatives may include high doses of vitamin C, magnesium or other herbal therapies used for laxative effects. 

Antibiotics: Stop taking 2-4 weeks before taking the test, consult with your healthcare provider for the exact timeframe.

Antifungals: Stop taking 2 weeks before testing.

Probiotics: It is recommended to avoid taking probiotics 4 days before taking the test. Consult with your healthcare provider to determine if this pertains to you.

The only seasonings allowed are salt and pepper and should be used in moderation.

No. Gum is not allowed during any part of the preparation period.

No. The test must be back at the lab 7 days after collection. It is recommended you mail it out immediately, but a delay of 3-4 days is fine.

If you are taking magnesium for a laxative effect, please stop taking it 4 days before you collect your samples. If you are not taking it for a laxative effect, you may continue taking it.

The meat (fish, chicken, or turkey) cannot be grilled.

If you are unsure, please contact the healthcare provider who ordered the test for you.

If any of the materials in the kit are broken or missing, please contact us at 651-342-0427 to have new materials sent to you.

No, once you collect a specimen a collection tube can not be reused.

Collect the missed sample as soon as possible but remain on the original 20-minute interval schedule. It is more important to collect baseline-120 minutes for the best possible test interpretation.

You may have received an email with tracking information when your test was shipped. If you did not receive the email, please contact your healthcare provider or request tracking information using the contact form on the Neurovanna website.

Please request a return shipping label by contacting Neurovanna in one of the following ways: fill out the contact form on the Neurovanna website, email us at cs@neurovanna.com, or call our support team.

We ship kits using the United States Postal Service (USPS). All return shipping labels also use USPS.

Finalized test results are usually complete within 4 business days of arriving at the lab. The final test results are released to your healthcare provider. Please contact them to get your results.