Lactose Tolerance Blood Test - 5 Specimen

The Lactose Tolerance 5 Specimen Blood Test helps diagnose lactose intolerance in individuals who have difficulties digesting dairy products, or sometimes as part of an investigation of malabsorption.

Description

Walk-In Lab’s Lactose Tolerance blood test helps diagnose  individuals who suffer from lactose intolerance, or who are unable to digest and absorb lactose (sugar in cow’s milk).

The Lactose Tolerance blood test requires fasting and test results are available within two to three days. A doctor's visit prior to testing is not required since Walk-In Lab provides you with the doctor's order required by the lab.

Lactose Intolerance is a genetic disorder in which individuals lack the intestinal enzyme that breaks down lactose. Consequently, the lactose is not absorbed and instead, bacteria in the colon uses the lactose to produce gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Walk-In Lab’s Lactose Tolerance test evaluates lactose intolerance and malabsorption syndromes such as Crohn's disease, jejunitis, small bowel resections, Giardia lamblia infestation, cystic fibrosis and Whipple disease.

Lactose is a disaccharide digested by lactase, and it yields galactose and glucose. After its absorption, the liver converts galactose to glucose. Glucose is measured in a lactose tolerance test, and it is the increase or lack of increase over the fasting specimen that is used for interpretation. A normal response shows a glucose increase of >30 mg/dL over the baseline sample. Individuals with lactase deficiency will demonstrate cramps, bloating and diarrhea, and show a glucose increase of <20 mg/dL. Diabetic patients may have abnormal lactose tolerance curves due to abnormal carbohydrate metabolism and not necessarily due to lactose intolerance. Since 25 percent of normal individuals show flat glucose tolerance tests, it is suggested that these patients should also have a glucose tolerance test. Additionally, ethanol can prevent conversion of galactose to glucose by the liver, and therefore, blood or urine galactose can be measured.