American College of Gastroenterology Issues Clinical Guidelines for IBS Diagnostics & Treatment

For the first time, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) developed a clinical practice guideline for managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) was published online in the January 2021 issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology. According to ACG, IBS is a “disorder of bowel function and…

GERD: Understanding what it is and the importance of GERD Awareness Week

Each year around Thanksgiving, the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders recognizes GERD Awareness Week. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a common disorder that affects roughly twenty percent of the U.S. adult population. Although common, the disease is often unrecognized, and its symptoms misunderstood. According to the IFFGD, GERD is most often associated with repeat occurrences of…

CDI Co-Hosts Webinar with Epicured on Trends & Best Practices for Diagnosing & Treating Functional GI Disorders

The COVID-19 pandemic has played a major role in the medical field and has altered the lives of patients’ throughout the world. Commonwealth Diagnostics International (CDI) co-hosted Epicured’s Partners in Health November 2020 Clinical Webinar featuring a panel of Gastroenterology experts who explored trends and best practices for diagnosing and treating functional GI Disorders in a…

Intestinal Methane – Breath Testing Results for Extremely High Methane Production

Researchers are commonly finding methane SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is its own kind of intestinal overgrowth. Many are now labeling this condition as IMO, or Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth, since methanogens that cause methane gas are technically not bacteria, but are part of the Archaea kingdom, and can grow in the colon as well as the small…

COVID-19, Aerosolization, and the Impact on Diagnostic Plans for Patients Presenting with GI-Related Symptoms

The Aerosolization Dilemma: As the world continues to adapt to COVID-19, more research has been published on how the virus is spread and how we should adapt our day-to-day lives to mitigate risk of exposure. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called attention to airborne transmission and the effects that aerosols play in spreading the…

Hydrogen & Methane Breath Testing vs Small Bowel Aspiration

A Comparison of Diagnostic Tests for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Carbohydrate Malabsorption Disorders Gastrointestinal disorders and their symptoms affect millions of people in the United States each year, and the effects of these symptoms can be discouraging for patients. Even worse, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and other maldigestive disorders can be difficult to…