Gastric Analysis
Your doctor has requested a gastric analysis procedure for you. Gastric analysis examines acids and other secretions found in the stomach. These secretions help you digest food. Some people, however, may secrete too much (called hypersecretion) or not enough, resulting in digestive disorders, such as ulcers. Gastric analysis may help your doctor identify the nature and causes
Gastric analysis also may be performed to see whether surgery to correct hypersecretion was effective.
Preparation
You should not eat anything after midnight on the evening before you take your test. In addition, you may be asked to stop taking certain medications until your test is complete.
Examination
During the examination, a nurse will insert a tube into your nose. It will pass down your throat and esophagus (food pipe) into your stomach. The tube is used to collect samples of your stomach secretions. First, a 30-minute “baseline” sample will be collected. Then you will be given an injection of a medication that makes your stomach produce acid. After you receive the medication, additional samples will be collected for one hour. The samples will then be taken to a laboratory for analysis.
After the Examination
At the completion of the procedure, the tube will be removed from your nose. You may then resume your normal diet and medications. Your doctor will explain the test to your within a few days.
Reviewed April 2011