Health | autism Simple Test May Help Diagnose Autism Early Stomach microbes could signal onset at 6 months old By Nick McMaster Suggested by Disillusioned Posted Jun 7, 2010 3:45 PM CDT Copied In a Jan. 13, 2010, photo, technician Carole Glavicich mixes urine samples at the National Scientific Research Institute in Laval, Quebec. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Graham Hughes) Children with and without autism show marked differences in the makeup of their intestinal bacteria, and a simple urine test may help doctors diagnose the condition in children as young as 6 months old. Children typically aren't diagnosed until they're 2, delaying the start of intervention and other treatments. With the earlier diagnosis, "it might become a preventable disease," the author of a new study tells the Telegraph. The findings are preliminary: the researchers need to replicate the results in young children to ultimately develop a safe test. The new research involved just 75 children. "Before these findings could be applied more widely," cautions an autism advocate, "they would need to be tested and scrutinized on a much broader scale." Read These Next The Air Force has changed its tune on Ashli Babbitt. Open that wallet big time for a trip to Disney, if you can afford it. Minneapolis shooter had a plan—and grievances. A 'tense' clash with RFK Jr. led to CDC chief's trouble. Report an error