A new test for patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)-like symptoms may provide clinicians with a quick, noninvasive and effective means to establish a correct diagnosis. Other presentations on the subject of GORD at the 4th United European Gastroenterology week [Berlin, Germany; September 1995] described the best approaches to treatment for patients with this condition, highlighting the role of proton pump inhibitors for patients with severe or persistent symptoms that are refractory to conventional treatment.