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urea breath tests for detecting Helicobacter pylori
Author(s) -
GODDARD A. F.,
LOGAN R. P. H.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2036.1997.00206.x
Subject(s) - medicine , helicobacter pylori , urea breath test , urea , gastroenterology , helicobacter infections , helicobacter pylori infection , biochemistry , biology
The urea breath test (UBT) is the most sensitive and specific non‐invasive test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection both before and after treatment. Labelling of the urea with either 13 C or 14 C has relative advantages and disadvantages. 13 C‐UBTs are both safe and well‐validated, and have the additional advantage that they can be used in children. However, the initial capital costs of 13 CO 2 analysis are large compared to those for 14 CO 2 . The protocol details for use of the 13 C‐UBT are variable: a test meal is important if urea solution is to be used and a single sample time point at 30 min is adequate. The recent development of novel formulations of 13 C urea and new analytical techniques for the measurement of 13 CO 2 should allow reduction in the length of the test and its cost; they may herald a more widespread clinical application of this useful test.