Helicobacter pylori testing

Purpose and procedure of the Helicobacter test

The Helicobacter test is designed to detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria.

The test involves oral administration of C14 urea and a 10-minute wait after ingestion.
The patient then has to blow exhaled air into the breathing card for 1-4 minutes.
The breath card has a colour-coded indicator dot to show when to stop blowing.
When enough exhaled air has accumulated on the card, the indicator colour changes from yellow to red.
The card is then handed to the doctor for evaluation and the test is complete for the patient.

The doctor inserts the card into the measuring device, which automatically displays the measurement result.
The complete test takes about.
20 minutes.

Preparation

It is not recommended to take antibiotics or medicines containing bismuth for 1 month before the Helicobacter test.
It is not recommended to take antacids for 1 week before the test.
Do not eat for 4 hours before the Helicobacter test.
Water may be drunk, but drinks containing sugar and/or calories such as juice, lemonade should be avoided.

It’s good to know

The carbon isotope C14, which is ingested during the Helicobacter test, is a naturally occurring radioactive isotope found in the air and in the human body.
During the test, the patient is exposed only to a level of radiation equivalent to the radiation exposure from naturally occurring background environmental radiation over a 24-hour period.
This is orders of magnitude less than, for example, the radiation exposure during a dental X-ray and does not pose a measurable risk to the patient.

Helicobacter pylori

Risks

The Helicobacter test is not recommended for pregnant women.
It can only be performed during breastfeeding if breastfeeding is discontinued for two days after the test.
The test is also not recommended for patients who have had part or all of their stomach removed.
Furthermore, the Helicobacter test is not advised for patients under 18 years of age, but the doctor can make other decisions after weighing up the risks and benefits.

Pain

The Helicobacter test is painless.

More about Helicobacter pylori

It is probably the most common cause of chronic human infection.
In developed countries, the prevalence increases gradually with age, reaching up to 70% by the age of 70.
Poor social conditions increase the potential for transmission.
In developed countries, after successful eradication (eradication of Helicobacter pylori bacteria by medication), the chances of re-infection are about
1%, and higher in children.

The infection is only transmitted from person to person, probably through faeces, saliva, gastric juice.
The Helicobacter pylori bacterium can only colonise the gastric mucosa, which can also develop in the duodenum in addition to the stomach.
Once established in the mucosa, it can provoke inflammation, atrophy, ulceration, ulceration, and may play a role in the development of gastric cancer.
These lesions can cause serious stomach and digestive problems and complaints.

Description of the exhalation tests

Breathing tests are based on the administration of urea by mouth.
If Helicobacter pylori infection is present, the urea is broken down by the bacteria into bicarbonate ion and ammonia.
Part of the bicarbonate is converted into carbon dioxide and is then expelled from the body in the exhaled air.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the exhaled air is increased compared to the original state, so the exhaled air is collected with a suitable device and its carbon dioxide content is measured.

Description of the Heliprobe method

For the Heliprobe (Helicobacter test), a urea molecule containing a small amount of the C14 isotope is prepared.
In the case of Helicobacter pylori infection, the urea produces carbon dioxide, which is collected from the exhaled air on a breath card.
In the absence of infection, urea is excreted in the urine and excess carbon dioxide does not appear in the exhaled air or on the breath card.
By inserting the breath card into a specially designed Heliprobe measuring device, it can be determined whether or not there is an increase in carbon dioxide in the exhaled air.
(Source: hazipatika.hu)

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