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Is There Any Test Called As Gastric Acid Secretion Test?

Posted on Thu, 23 Jun 2016

Question: I read about the 'The Stomach Acid Test' which is used to measure the amount of acid in the stomach. It also measures the level of acidity in stomach contents and gives much more information that would help me. An alternative name given to this test is 'Gastric Acid Secretion Test'. When I asked my GI if I could have this test he said he knows of no such test! Am I going mad? I read about it all over the internet yet my GI (a very good one) nor his medical nurse knows anything about it. Neither does the hospital. I have been suffering for decades and the tests my GI sent me for are all normal yet the Heidleberg Stomach acid test shows I produce excess stomach acid. I'm desperate for confirmation of whether I am normal or not and have conflicting results and this test could remove the uncertainty? Could you tell me where in Utah I can have this test and if there's more than one place I would like to know about them so I can compare costs. Needless to say I have searched the internet and can find no one offering this test in Utah but perhaps you have ways to track them down. Here's a link to just one article about the test:
http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/test/stomach-acid-test/overview.html

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
24 hrs pH ambulatory monitoring test for GERD

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking

I read your question and i understand your concern. I believe you are talking abou 24 hour ph ambulatory monitoring test, it is used in acid reflux people and uses a probe device to measure acid for 24 hours. The device identifies when, and for how long, stomach acid regurgitates into your esophagus. This test is also called esophageal pH monitoring. If you have acid reflux, your doctor may consider it for extent of reflux, but most of the times its not needed. Talk to yor Gi doctor now and he will understand what are you talking about .

I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.

Regards
Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (13 hours later)

I don't want to be disrespectful but my first thoughts on reading your reply was, did you even read my question fully? You say to ask my GI and I had mentioned twice that he didn't know - that's why I asked you using this facility. Furthermore, its not the "24 hour ph ambulatory monitoring test" you said it is. So my question has not been answered - I am so upset at your poor attempt at providing an answer especially as I provided a link to an article that, if you had looked at what the test does it clearly is not "24 hour ph ambulatory monitoring test" - even a non-medical person such as I can clearly see that. Please re-read my question fully and the link, and I would be grateful for a more satisfactory answer. Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Obsolete and not recommended except in gastric tumors

Detailed Answer:
I am really sorry for the trouble you had to face
The test article shows is obsolete and no more recommended and is used only in one condition, which is zollinger ellison syndrome,a gastrinoma tumor. A more reliable and easy to use test for which is available, that is serum gastrin levels. Had this test been used any further, your doctors who are i am sure well certified have recommended that, but when it comes to internet, a lot of misguiding can be a sequelae of self treatment and education.

pardon my poor attempt but we are here to guide the patient with what we think best for them. Sometimes patients prefer internet over a valid consult of docotrs both physically and virtually but unfortunately, a single article from a site with no authenticity is prefered over many MD doctors.

You may consult dr XXXXXXX F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San XXXXXXX California who has reviewed this article and see if he consider a simple gastric discomfort for such an invasive test which we doctors don't recommend any more unless its gastrinoma or zollinger ellison syndrome.

Regards
Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)

But my complaint isn't a "simple gastric discomfort" its a complex, lifelong experience of ongoing pain, which has more than 20 top physicians baffled. Multiple daily symptoms resulting in sleep deprivation and enormous frustration being unable to attain a definitive diagnosis from anyone in the medical arena. I certainly do not place internet information over qualified doctors. However, after decades of tests past and present, and still not know whether I am over, under, or normal in my acid and bile production leaves me feeling greatly let down and the test outlined in great detail in the article I referred you to appears to me that it would determine whether I am normal, over, or under producing acid and bile, and, lots of other information concerning my digestive functionality. Since writing to you, another doctor called me from out of state informing me that he thinks another name for the 'The Stomach Acid Test' or 'Gastric Acid Secretion Test' is the 'Basal Gastric Analysis Test' or 'Basal Gastric Output Test'. Do you know which of all these test would supply all the information outlined in the article at the link I sent you? Thank you once again.

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Needs management

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me

These are all the names of the same test and can be considered. However doctors first go for endoscopies, blood work up, HIDA scans for gallbladder , abdominal ultrasounds, pancreatic profile before going for this test. If all the baseline work up and endoscopy reports are inconclusive, they may opt for it, but with gastrin levels first analysed, doctors pretty much have a clue about stomach pH and acid levels. But yes you may request them if they deem necessary, they will suck the fluid out of your stomach after gastrin stimulation to see if it helps.

With frequent abdominal, functional bowel disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases etc should be considered as well.

I hope it helps.
Regards
Khan

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar