Preparing for a Commonwealth Diagnostics International Breathing Test

Craig Strasnick is a medical testing executive who leads Commonwealth Diagnostics International (CDI), a provider of multidisciplinary breath test products. The hydrogen and methane breath tests Craig Strasnick and his team have developed can be self-administered at home and operate on the fundamental principle that the presence of certain trace gases in breath indicate the presence of unwanted bacteria in the small intestine.

Patients taking the CDI tests at home or in a physician’s office prepare beforehand with a 12-hour preparatory diet period that includes only ingesting specific broiled or baked meats, plain white rice, and eggs. Minimal spices and cooking oils are used, and the only allowed drinks are water, plain coffee, and tea. 

This preparatory diet is followed by a 12-hour fast, during which only water is consumed. In addition, there should be no smoking during the 24 hours leading up to the test and no sleep or exercise for at least an hour prior to the test. Antibiotics should be discontinued at least a month prior to the test and laxatives a week before the test. 

These restrictions allow an optimal baseline sample to be collected prior to ingesting the provided substrate and taking regular breath samples throughout the testing period.