Test for H pylori Infection

A breath test kit for Helicobacter pylori infection makes it possible for primary care doctors to determine if a patient has an active infection and to make therapeutic decisions within 26 minutes. The test has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

H pylori is estimated to infect two-thirds of the world's population, including about 50% of US citizens. It is the predominant cause of ulcers and is associated with two kinds of stomach cancers. Called BreathTek-UbiT, the test kit is designed for use with the UbiT-IR infrared spectrophotometer, which analyzes the ratio of 12CO2/13CO2 in breath samples. The test was developed by Meretek Diagnostics, Inc. (Nashville, TN, USA). The test helps to ensure that only patients with an active infection will receive treatment, thereby minimizing antibiotic resistance.

"Gastroenterologists have been recommending active H pylori testing for some time now,” said Dr. David Y. Graham, professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX, USA). "We believe there is a great benefit in utilizing tests such as the Breath Tek-UbiT as the primary test in the test-and-treat scenario now being recommended to the primary care physician.”




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