Histamine in Stool

Individuals experiencing symptoms of gastrointestinal distress that may be related to allergic reactions or inflammatory conditions—such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and bloating—should consider this test. It is particularly useful for those suspected of having food allergies, IBD, or mast cell activation syndrome.

Symptoms suggesting the need for testing histamine levels in stool include chronic diarrhea, unexplained abdominal pain, flushing, headaches, and symptoms consistent with allergic reactions that are confined to the gastrointestinal tract.

The test involves collecting a stool sample from the patient, which is then analyzed in a laboratory to measure the levels of histamine. This measurement indicates the degree of inflammatory or allergic activity in the gastrointestinal tract.

Elevated histamine levels in stool can result from allergic reactions to certain foods, presence of excessive mast cells in the gastrointestinal tract (as seen in mast cell activation syndrome), or chronic inflammatory conditions such as IBD.