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 symptom. Seeing a specialist is recommended for more appropriate evaluation:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Trouble swallowing
• 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

*A “low blood count” is not an accurate description of anemia, since this could also refer to low levels of platelets and/or white blood cells. Rather, anemia specifically refers to low levels of healthy red blood cells, causing insufficiently low levels of hemoglobin.

**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 3 weeks, this test isn’t right for you.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that can infect the stomach and intestines, causing inflammation and ulcers. 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. If you are experiencing these symptoms, contact a healthcare provider.In many cases, H. pylori infection can be treated successfully with medications.

H. pylori is the only bacterium known to withstand the stomach's extremely acidic environment. H. pylori can survive in acidic conditions because it produces urease, which results in the release of urea to form ammonia. This process raises the pH of the surrounding environment, making it more favorable for bacterial growth and cellular injury. The spiral shape of H. pylori bacteria is thought to have evolved to enable penetration and infection, causing sores on the lining of the stomach or small intestine (peptic ulcers). Once the bacteria have damaged the protective coating, corrosive stomach acid can reach the sensitive lining. Together, stomach acid and H. pylori irritate the lining of the stomach or small intestine, resulting in a peptic ulcer. These ulcers can worsen if left untreated.

H. pylori may cause digestive disorders and stomach-related medical conditions, such as infections, ulcers, inflammation, and stomach cancer. Persistent or recurring digestive issues or abdominal pain may indicate an H. pylori infection. If you are experiencing persistent or recurring digestive issues, contact your physician.

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)

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 Pranactin-Citric drink solution contains aspartame, which may 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 idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP); 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 or HI.

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)).