Four gut health tests most people never have but a doctor says they should

Regular health check-ups are something many people tend to avoid, and even when a visit to the doctor becomes unavoidable, undergoing tests is often the part people dread most. Yet the role that testing plays in reaching an accurate medical diagnosis is difficult to overstate.

Whilst doctors are often regarded as near-miraculous figures, they remain human beings who study symptoms, evaluate the information available to them, and chart the best course towards a patient's recovery. Tests give them the data they need to make an informed and accurate diagnosis — and the more comprehensive that data, the better equipped they are to help.

On Tuesday, Dr Saurabh Sethi, a California-based gastroenterologist trained at AIIMS, Harvard, and Stanford Universities, took to Instagram to highlight four tests he considers significantly underused — and which he believes can fundamentally alter the outcome of a gut health diagnosis.

1. Gastric emptying study

The gastric emptying study is a medical examination used to measure the rate at which food travels from the stomach into the small intestine. Dr Sethi recommends it for anyone experiencing persistent nausea, bloating, or a sensation of feeling full unusually quickly.

"This test shows if your stomach is actually emptying properly. Up to 40 percent of diabetics have delayed gastric emptying - most never get tested."

2. FibroScan

FibroScan is a non-invasive, specialist ultrasound examination used to assess liver stiffness and fat content, and can serve as an alternative to a conventional liver biopsy.

"Painless, five-minute liver scan. Detects fatty liver and fibrosis before blood tests even budge. No needle. No prep. Wildly underused. One in four adults has fatty liver disease - most find out too late."

3. Faecal elastase

Faecal elastase is a digestive enzyme produced exclusively in the pancreas. A test measuring the quantity of this enzyme present in a stool sample can indicate whether the organ is functioning as it should.

"One stool sample reveals if your pancreas is digesting food properly. Missed in thousands of chronic diarrhoea cases every year. Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency can affect about eight percent of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) patients who are never tested for it."

4. Faecal calprotectin

Faecal calprotectin is a protein found in stool samples that is released primarily by white blood cells. Elevated levels are indicative of swelling and irritation within the intestinal lining.

"(It is a) simple stool test that separates IBS from IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). Catches inflammation that can't wait."

In the caption accompanying his post, Dr Sethi noted, "As a gastroenterologist, these are some of the most underutilised tests I rely on - and they can completely change a diagnosis."

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.