Diagnosis and testing for Helicobacter pylori infection
The infection can be diagnosed using different tests, selected according to the clinical situation.
The tests used for diagnosis include:
The labelled urea breath test. It is a non-invasive technique that detects the presence of the bacterium in the stomach; it is the most commonly used test.
The stool antigen test. This identifies bacterial components in a stool sample.
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. This test allows gastric biopsies to be taken to detect the bacterium through histological examination or specific tests. This option is used particularly when there are warning signs or a suspicion of associated lesions.
Microbiological culture. In selected cases, especially in infections that have not responded to several treatments, a microbiological culture or molecular techniques may be used to assess antibiotic sensitivity, although this is not necessary for most patients.
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