Bowel Transit Time

How To Prepare

If you plan to use food markers (such as corn or beets) to measure bowel transit time at home, do not eat these foods for about a week before starting the test.

If you are using a red vegetable dye, do not eat or drink foods that contain red dye, such as red gelatin or fruit drinks, for about a week before starting the test.

Tell your doctor if you are or might be pregnant before having a pellet test.

Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).

Go to previous section	Go to top of page	Go to next section
Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: May 5, 2006
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Peter J. Kahrilas, MD - Gastroenterology Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.