Breath Analysis Tech To Help Monitor Gut Health, Microbiome
Collected data can be used to develop personalized health plans for those with digestive health issues
CAMBRIDGE, The UK — Owlstone Medical recently launched OMED Health—a dedicated, patient-centric digital platform that offers patients and clinicians access to breath-based diagnostic tests, point-of-care (PoC) devices, and support resources for a range of conditions. Initially focused on digestive disease, OMED Health will help individuals with gut health issues have an improved quality of life by enabling better, and faster, understanding and management of their conditions.
In digestive health, breath testing is emerging as an effective way for patients to monitor and manage symptoms. OMED Health’s gut health tests operate by detecting small amounts of hydrogen and methane gases on breath, which can be collected at home. These gases on breath can be a key indicator of gut health and can signal certain conditions and diseases.
Following analysis, the breath test results along with interpretation are provided to help diagnose small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or carbohydrate malabsorption. These common causes of digestive discomfort are actionable through treatments such as antibiotics or targeted dietary changes.
By using data from the OMED Health tests, and combining it with expert support, personalized health plans can be generated. These tests are already in use by multiple NHS Trusts across the UK.
As part of the OMED Health offering, a portable breath analyzer that can monitor gut health over time by measuring hydrogen and methane levels is being developed. The device will be accompanied by a mobile app that allows viewing of results and tracking of symptoms and other potential triggers. OMED Health’s expert gastrointestinal physiologists, or a person’s healthcare provider, would then review the data to help create a personalized plan. Over time, users will be able to understand the progress of their condition and response to their treatment plan.
Co-founder and CEO at Owlstone Medical, Billy Boyle, MEng, said, “People living with digestive health issues currently feel let down. They’re waiting years to get a diagnosis and have little choice but to live their daily lives in discomfort, with many turning to fad diets, supplements, apps, and devices that have little or no scientific basis. Through OMED Health, we are deploying our breath analysis technology, developed with the support of gut health experts, to provide people with a solution they can trust. Our aim is simple—helping the billion people globally with digestive health issues live normal lives.
- This press release was originally published on the Owlstone Medical Ltd website