Overview
H. pylori is a bacterium that lives in the stomach lining. It is a frequent cause of gastritis and stomach or duodenal ulcers. Testing can be done by breath, stool antigen or blood.
Why it's done
It is ordered for heartburn, stomach pain, ulcers or long-standing dyspepsia, and after treatment to confirm eradication.
How to prepare
For breath and stool tests, stop proton-pump inhibitors for 2 weeks and antibiotics for 4 weeks beforehand (on your doctor’s advice).
What to expect
Depending on the method — a breath sample, a stool sample or a blood draw. All methods cause minimal discomfort.
Understanding the results
A positive result indicates active or past infection. An active infection requires antibiotic therapy. A gastroenterologist interprets the result.