Here's How It Works
1
Order
Complete the symptoms screening questionnaire for a licensed healthcare professional to review, and order your ibs-smart collection kit to be shipped to your home.
2
Collect
Our ibs-smart-smart kit will include a blood draw device allowing you to collect your sample at home and prepaid shipping labels to mail your sample to the lab.
3
Get Answers
Your ibs-smart test results will be emailed directly to you along with an itemized superbill if you wish to file a claim with your insurance.
4
Pricing and Insurance
ibs-smart is $249. If it is determined that the test is not right for you, you will be refunded the full cost of the test.
Along with your results, you will receive an itemized receipt (superbill) for use when filing an insurance claim. ibs-smart is covered at least in part by many common insurance plans. If you're interested in asking your insurance provider about coverage, you can reference PLA code: 0164U.
Medicare and Medicaid may not cover online services. If you would like to use your Medicare or Medicaid coverage for ibs-smart, please work with a local provider.
Due to the advanced nature of our testing and the cost of the sample collection kit (provided to you for free), all orders are final. We cannot issue a refund after you place an order. If your kit never arrives or arrives damaged or incomplete, we will immediately send you another kit free of charge. If you have any questions before placing your order, please contact support@ibssmart.com. Not available in New York State.
The Story of ibs-smart
Dr. Mark Pimentel and Dr. Kapil Gupta explain:
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For decades, it was believed that IBS was caused by physiological factors like anxiety.
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In 2015, a 2,500-patient study on the progression of food poisoning to IBS led to the discovery of two biomarkers, anti-CdtB and anti-vinculin, that indicate IBS.
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ibs-smart was developed to measure these biomarkers and confidently diagnose IBS so patients can quickly begin a personalized treatment plan.
Commonly Asked Questions
for Diagnosing IBS
How is IBS diagnosed?
Recently, scientists have identified biomarkers for IBS (anti-CdtB and anti-vinculin) that are measurable in a patient's blood. While these biomarkers do not indicate all forms of IBS, they are effective in diagnosing the majority of IBS-D and IBS-M cases. ibs-smart is the only licensed and patented blood test for the diagnosis of IBS.
In the past, IBS has traditionally been diagnosed by multiple tests to exclude the possibility of other diseases. If, through this process, no other health issues are found, a diagnosis of IBS is made. Additional testing can include colonoscopy, endoscopy, stool test, radiography, celiac panel, and a GI breath test.
However, The latest ACG guidelines for managing IBS suggest “a positive diagnostic strategy” (ruling in IBS) as compared to “a diagnostic strategy of exclusion” (ruling out other diseases) “...to improve time to initiate appropriate therapy...and to improve cost-effectiveness." An antibody blood test provides this positive diagnostic strategy.
Which types of IBS does ibs-smart help diagnose?
ibs-smart is useful in the diagnosis of IBS-D (diarrhea-predominant) and IBS-M (diarrhea and constipation mixed).
However, ibs-smart is not useful in the diagnosis of IBS-C (constipation-predominant), because the antibodies that the test measures are not often found to be elevated in patients with IBS-C.
How accurate is an ibs-smart diagnosis?
ibs-smart is the only licensed and patented antibody blood test for IBS and is a second-generation test for the measurement of anti-CdtB and anti-vinculin. (citation)
ibs-smart has been scientifically validated and is performed in a CLIA-certified laboratory.
Patients with elevated levels of either anti-CdtB or anti-vinculin, as measured by ibs-smart, can be diagnosed with IBS with 96% positive predictive value.
Patients with elevated levels of both anti-CdtB and anti-vinculin antibodies, as measured by ibs-smart, can be diagnosed with IBS with 100% positive predictive value.
Not in the US? You can still diagnose IBS with ibs-smart.
ibs-smart is available in several countries and territories through partnerships with the labs listed here:
Please contact the lab directly to inquire about ordering ibs-smart. We are actively expanding our partnerships. If you would like to stay in touch about the availability of ibs-smart in your country, please contact us.
