If you think you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), talk to your doctor. She or he will use your health history, a physical exam, and different tests to figure out if you have IBD and, if so, which type. Tests used to diagnose IBD include:

Blood tests. A sample of blood is studied in a lab to find signs of inflammation and anemia.

Stool sample. A sample of a bowel movement is tested for blood. It is also tested for signs of an infection that can trigger a flare-up of IBD.

Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. For both of these tests, a long, thin tube with a lighted camera inside the tip is inserted into the anus. The image appears on a television screen. A sigmoidocospy (SIG-moi-DOSS-kuh-pee) allows the doctor to see the lining of the lower part of the large intestine. A colonoscopy (koh-lon-OSS-koh-pee) allows the doctor to see the lining of the entire large intestine and often the last part of the small intestines. The doctor will then be able to see any inflammation, bleeding, or ulcers. During the exam, the doctor may do a biopsy (BY-op-see). This involves taking a sample of tissue from the lining of the digestive tract to view with a microscope.

X-rays with barium. In this procedure, a thick, chalky liquid called barium is used to coat the lining of the digestive tract. Then x-rays are taken. Areas coated with barium show up white on x-ray film. This allows the doctor to check for signs of IBD. The barium can be drunk or given as an enema.

Computerized axial tomography (CT or CAT scan). A CT scan takes x-rays from several different angles around the body. The doctor studies the images with a computer to look for signs of ulcerative colitis.

Capsule endoscopy. Regular endoscopies and colonoscopies cannot get to your small intestine. But doctors can examine the small intestine through a capsule endoscopy (en-DAHS-kuh-pee). A capsule endoscopy is a small, pill shaped camera. You swallow the pill, which then travels through your digestive system. It records video of the small intestine and sends the video to a monitor where your doctor can watch it. Capsule endoscopies can't be used if there is any narrowing of the digestive system.

It often takes awhile for doctors to diagnose IBD. This is because IBD symptoms vary and are similar to those of many other problems.