Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Tests
Reviewed
H. pylori tests check for a common stomach bacteria that can cause peptic ulcers, gastritis, and increase stomach cancer risk. Most infected people have no symptoms. Testing helps determine if H. pylori is causing digestive problems and whether treatment has cleared the infection.
Preparation and collection
You may need to stop taking certain medicines for two weeks to a month before testing. For an endoscopy, you may need to fast for several hours. After endoscopy, you may be drowsy, so plan to have someone bring you home. Follow your provider's instructions.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- Blood tests for H. pylori antibodies are not commonly used because they cannot tell if the infection is current or past.
- A negative blood antibody test usually means you did not have an infection when the sample was taken.
- Test accuracy can be affected by recent use of certain medications.
What to do next
Discuss all results with your healthcare provider. Do not change or stop any medications without consulting your provider.
Evidence source
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Tests