H. Pylori Breath Test

A non-invasive breath test detecting active Helicobacter pylori infection — the bacterium responsible for the majority of stomach ulcers and a recognised risk factor for gastric cancer. Suitable for initial diagnosis and post-treatment confirmation. Results in 10 working days.

Helicobacter pylori is estimated to colonise the stomach lining of roughly half the global population, though infection rates in the UK are lower. The bacterium produces urease, an enzyme that breaks down urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide, which forms the basis of the breath test: the patient ingests a urea substrate labelled with carbon-13, and if H. pylori is present, the labelled carbon dioxide appears in exhaled breath at elevated levels. The breath test is considered one of the most accurate non-invasive methods for detecting active H. pylori infection and has a key advantage over antibody blood tests: it detects current, active infection rather than historical exposure. This makes it suitable both for initial diagnosis and for confirming successful eradication after a course of treatment — a common clinical use case since antibiotic resistance in H. pylori is increasing and first-line treatment fails in a meaningful proportion of cases. Preparation is important for accuracy: a 6-hour complete fast (no food, drink, or water) is required, and proton pump inhibitor medications must be stopped at least two weeks before the test as they suppress H. pylori activity and can produce false negatives. The test itself takes approximately 15 minutes. Results are returned in 10 working days.