title: The role of diagnostic testing in irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: This article discusses the diagnostic criteria and processes applicable to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The authors describe the various diagnostic criteria with a focus on the Rome criteria for IBS and the judicious application of historical information such as alarm features and the yield of various diagnostic modalities such as blood, stool, breath, and endoscopic tests.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Service, National Naval Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889-5000, USA.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Furman
authors.forename: Brooks D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Cash
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001944:Breath Tests; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones