Need a test for stomach acid.

[wedgewood]

Does anyone out there know of a test for stomach acid, and where I can get it.? I realise that I will probably have to pay for it myself. It seem to beyond my sugerys' powers to find out! I believe that I have no stomach acid(Achlorhydria ) or Hypochlorhydria (very little) Would be so grateful for anything about the above.

A document published by N.I.C.E. says that P.A. patients will have this problem.

P.S. I know all about the D.I.Y. stomach acid test with Bi-carb, I've done this, and from that I can assume that I have none. Of course I was laughed out of the surgery when I told my doctor about this "Never heard anything so ridiculous in my life"

[Laura5]

I think that a fasting serum gastrin test is what you need. If it is high then that is indicative of low stomach acid.

[wedgewood in reply to Laura5]

Thank-you so much for that. It's strange the docs have so many (prescription) remedies if they THINK you have too much acid, But you try to get a test to find out with any accuracy if you are low in or have no acid!!! Really appreciate your reply.

[Laura5 in reply to wedgewood]

Completely agree. I told my GP I thought I had low stomach acid and she prescribed a proton pump inhibitor (which I didn't take). No chance of getting a test. Have even had an endoscopy where I understand they could easily have tested the pH. It is just not considered by anyone as a possibility. I have antibodies to parietal cells which I think attack the acid producing cells in the stomach - so low stomach acid is far more likely to be causing my symptoms than high stomach acid.