Researchers at McGill University (Montreal, Canada) performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the lactose intolerance hydrogen breath test as compared to north European genetic polymorphism C/T-13910. The north European genetic polymorphism C/T-13910 has previously been identified as the common leak in suffers of lactose intolerance. The researchers reviewed 19 studies of which 17 include the hydrogen breath test. Heterogeneity was explored by adjusting for studies including children, high or low dose lactose and to some extent by site of study. The result was a very high sensitivity (0.94) and specificity (0.90) suggesting that the hydrogen breath test for lactose intolerance is a very accurate test.
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Volume 35, Issue 4. Pages 429-440, February 2012