Helicobacter pylori, Urea Breath Test

Overview:

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that lives in the stomach lining and is a common cause of peptic ulcers and gastritis. This test works by having you swallow a urea solution; if the bacterium is present, an enzyme it produces breaks the urea down and releases carbon dioxide that can be detected in your breath. Unlike antibody testing, which stays positive after an infection has cleared, this identifies a current infection, which makes it suitable both for initial testing and for confirming that treatment has worked. Acid-reducing medications and recent antibiotics can cause a falsely negative result.

Categories:

Immune, Digestive Health

Biomarkers:

1 biomarker