Bedfont presents its new Hydrogen and Methane Breath Testing Home Kits in association with GI Cognition.
With the pandemic of COVID-19 bringing a halt to most medical tests and procedures, it has highlighted a need to safely, easily, and remotely find a way for health services to continue treating their patients, especially in the field of Gastroenterology. Global breath analysis manufacturer, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., has teamed up with GI Cognition to do just that in launching its new Hydrogen and Methane Breath Testing (HMBT) ‘Home Kits’ to help improve Gastric Health remotely.
Known for their innovative medical devices, Bedfont brings their 32 years of Hydrogen and Methane monitoring knowledge and has created a simple and patient-friendly HBMT Home Kit, which allows patients to be tested remotely for many digestive issues, including food intolerances, IBS, and SIBO. The Home Kits will be distributed by GI Cognition; a UK network of qualified GI physiologists, providing a unique and innovative mobile gastrointestinal physiology service.
According to NICE, IBS prevalence in the UK population is estimated to be between 10% and 20%1 and SIBO affects 1 in 7 according to the London Gastroenterology Centre2. GI Cognition was first established to ease the pressure on UK hospitals that deal with long waiting times and convoluted processes for their gastroenterology outpatients. By teaming up with Bedfont to offer HBMT Home Kits, they can not only accomplish this but also help Bedfont to raise awareness of gastrointestinal health and give the patient more knowledge and control of their own gastric health.
Dr. Jafar Jafari, Head Of Upper GI Physiology Service at Guys and St Thomas Hospital, and Executive Director at GI Cognition, explains, “Hydrogen and methane breath testing is an invaluable tool in helping to detect gastrointestinal disorders, but unfortunately there are not enough qualified GI physiologists in the UK to meet the growing demand from patients and hospitals, causing a shortage of upper GI testing services, including HBMT; GI cognition was established to remedy this. We are excited to be working with Bedfont on HBMT Home Kits to help bridge the gap.”
Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, adds, “For some time there has been a need to help reduce the pressure on gastroenterology health services and with the pandemic, we decided to focus on developing the Home Kits sooner. Through remote breath analysis, more patients can be seen, without having to leave the comfort of their homes, meaning they can receive great care and stop living in discomfort by better understanding and taking control of their digestive health.”
References:
- Introduction | Irritable bowel syndrome in adults: diagnosis and management | Guidance | NICE [Internet]. Nice.org.uk. 2021 [cited 20 May 2008]. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg61/chapter/introduction#:~:text=IBS%20most%20often%20affects%20people,of%20IBS%20in%20older%20people.
- SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) – Treating, Testing & Preventing [Internet]. London Gastroenterology Centre. 2018 [cited 20 May 2021]. Available from: https://www.gastrolondon.co.uk/overview-of-diagnosis-and-management-of-small-intestinal-bacterial-overgrowth/