H. pylori Breath Test

This test may be right for you if:

• You have mild to moderate digestive issues that have not been previously investigated
• You feel persistently bloated or belching often
• You experience a burning sensation in your stomach or throat
• You smoke/use tobacco products regularly
• You feel discomfort in your stomach/throat when lying down, late at night, or after eating greasy foods
• You live in the same household as someone who tests positive for H. pylori
• You are taking an NSAID (aspirin, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, Celebrex, etc)

This test may NOT be right for you if you experience the following symptoms. Seeing a specialist is recommended for more appropriate evaluation:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Trouble swallowing
• Have anemia
• Have low blood count, called anemia*
• Have been told you are iron deficient without a cause
• Have frequent nausea or persistent vomiting
• Have yellowing of the skin, called jaundice
• Have persistent or recurrent pain in the stomach area

Please note: some medications, such as antibiotics and acid-suppressing medications (such as a proton pump inhibitor or Pepto-Bismol) may interfere with the accuracy of this test. If you are on one of these medications at this time or have been within the last 4 weeks, this test isn’t right for you.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that can infect the stomach and intestines, which can sometimes lead to irritation, ulcers, and other digestive issues. It is a very common infection and often there are no symptoms. However, in some people, H. pylori infection can cause digestive discomfort, nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Long-term infection with H. pylori can increase the risk of other intestinal diseases, including stomach cancer.

The H. pylori bacteria attach to the tissue that protects the stomach, damaging it and allowing the stomach acids to get through to the stomach wall. The bacteria can also irritate stomach cells and cause too much stomach acid. The PyloPlus® Urea Breath Test (UBT) is a noninvasive test that uses your breath to detect H. pylori. After collecting a baseline breath sample, you will drink a liquid urea solution, which helps detect signs of H. pylori in your breath. You will be asked to wait 15 minutes after drinking the liquid before obtaining another breath sample; both samples are then compared during analysis to detect the presence of H. pylori. If H. pylori is present, the bacteria produce large amounts of an enzyme called urease that breaks down the urea from the solution and releases a unique type of carbon dioxide that can be measured in your breath.

This test detects the presence of H. pylori bacteria and is not intended to diagnose or treat medical conditions on its own. Results should be interpreted in consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. In many cases, H. pylori infection can be treated successfully with medications.

Although an H. pylori infection can occur without signs or symptoms (asymptomatic), you may experience the following:

• Frequent burping
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Unexplained weight loss
• Bloating
• Chronic bad breath (halitosis)
• Upset stomach
• Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as pain, aching, or burning
• Abdominal pain that worsens on an empty stomach
• Inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)
• Indigestion (dyspepsia)

If you are experiencing severe recurring symptoms, contact a healthcare provider.

Purchaser: You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a test on questhealth.com.

Patient: This test can be performed on patients between 18 and 100 years old.

The urea drink solution may contain aspartame, which can be unsuitable for individuals who must restrict their phenylalanine intake. This test may not be appropriate for you if you are allergic or sensitive to mannitol, citric acid, or aspartame; have been diagnosed with phenylketonuria (PKU); have been diagnosed with Immune Thrombocytopenia (formerly referred to as Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpera); or have used certain medications within the past 2-4 weeks.

Sample collection: This test requires sample collection at a Quest Diagnostics location. Collection is not available in AZ, HI, or PR.

You cannot eat or drink anything, including water, for 1 hour before this test. Eating or drinking anything (including water) in the hour before the test may lead to an invalid result.

Please note: Some medications and over-the-counter treatments could affect test accuracy. Discontinuation of prescribed medication should only be done after discussing with your doctor.

Common medications that could affect test accuracy include: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as Prilosec(R);, Prevacid(R), Nexium(R);, Protonix(R), etc; Pepto Bismol(R); and Antibiotics including those to treat H. pylori.

Common over-the-counter medications that could affect test accuracy include: H2 antagonists (Tagamet(R), Zantac(R), Pepcid(R), Axid(R)) and Antacids (Tums(R), Rolaids(R), Maalox(R)).