Tests & Diagnosis
There are several ways to test for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
- A blood test can measure if there are any antibodies to the bacteria. However this only indicates if there has been a previous exposure to the bacteria but does not indicate if the bacterium is still present.
- A breath test is the best non-invasive way to make the diagnosis of an active infection. This test is performed at a lab. You need to be off antibiotics for four weeks and medicines that decrease acid production for one to two weeks prior to this test. You will be asked to swallow a solution and then your breath will be collected over the next hour or so to determine if the bug is there.
- A gastroscopy is the preferred way to determine if the bacterium is present by evaluating the upper gastrointestinal tract (the esophagus, stomach and duodenum). During the scope procedure, biopsies can be obtained from the stomach lining and examined for the presence of the bacterium.
- An upper GI series is a procedure where you will be asked to drink a liquid barium solution. X-rays are then taken of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. This is a poor way to diagnose an ulcer because the X-rays are inaccurate and may miss an ulcer in 15-20% of cases. X-rays also do not allow biopsies to be taken or therapeutic maneuvers to be performed.
Important: This information should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your physician.