Table 3 Comparison of methane breath tests, blood sugar tests and symptoms with results of hydrogen breath tests in patients with suspected fructose malabsorption.

From: Methane breath tests and blood sugar tests in children with suspected carbohydrate malabsorption

 

HBT (n = 187)

Sensitivity (%)

Specificity (%)

PPV (%)

NPV (%)

Positive, n (%)

Negative, n (%)

MBT

Positive

66 (35)

0 (0)

58

100

100

61

Negative

47 (25)

74 (40)

BST

Positive

59 (32)

50 (27)

52

32

54

31

Negative

54 (29)

24 (13)

Symptoms

Positive

31 (17)

20 (11)

27

73

61

40

Negative

82 (44)

54 (29)

  1. HBT hydrogen breath test (an increase of H2 ≥ 20 ppm over baseline was considered positive). MBT methane breath test (a CH4 concentration ≥ 10 ppm at any time point was considered positive). BST blood sugar test (an increase of blood glucose < 1.1 mmol/L at any time point was considered positive). Symptoms patients who showed or reported any symptoms during the test procedure. PPV positive predictive value. NPV negative predictive value.
Back to article page