Xylose testing checks how well the small intestine absorbs a simple sugar called D-xylose.
You drink a solution containing D-xylose, a simple sugar. Blood samples, urine samples, or both are then collected over a set period. The amount measured helps assess whether the small intestine absorbed the sugar.
A lower-than-expected result may suggest impaired intestinal absorption, but it does not diagnose a specific cause. Kidney function can affect how much D-xylose appears in urine, so blood and urine results are not interchangeable. The test is not used routinely in every setting, and the preparation, timing, and reference values come from the testing service.

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