Qualitative and semi-quantitative value of a modified 13C-urea breath test for identification of Helicobacter pylori infection

The 13C‐urea breath test to detect Helicobacter pylori infection: a validated simple methodology with 50 mg 13C‐urea

“…Background: Several modifications of the 13 C-urea breath test have been published. For reasons of cost efficiency and practicability, the urea dose and measurement duration should be reduced while still maintaining excellent diagnostic accuracy.…”

“…For reasons of cost efficiency and practicability, the urea dose and measurement duration should be reduced while still maintaining excellent diagnostic accuracy. Aims: To establish a validated simple protocol for the urea breath test with 50 mg 13 C-urea and to compare this protocol with the conventional urea breath test with 100 mg 13 C-urea. Methods: Conventional urea breath test with 100 mg 13 C-urea was performed on 152 dyspeptic patients.…”

“…Fullcream cow's milk was used as the test meal. Breath tests were repeated using 50 mg 13 C-urea and the breath samples were collected at baseline and at 10 (protocol t 10 ), 15 (protocol t 15 ) and 30 min (protocol t 30 ). Helicobacter pylori status was assessed by rapid urease test, histology and conventional urea breath test with 100 mg 13 C-urea.…”

“…2 For the test, urea marked with the stable carbon isotope 13 C is applied orally. If H. pylori's usually potent enzyme urease is present in the stomach during the test, urea will be hydrolysed to form ammonia and labelled carbon dioxide.…”

“…Several papers describing the methodology of 13 C-UBT have been published, [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] but they differ with regard to the dose of 13 C-urea, timing of the sample collection, type of test meal used and the equipment required to analyse the breath samples. However, only the dose of 13 C-urea and the measuring equipment are directly related to the costs of the test.…”