pylori (Helicobacter pylori) is a bacterium is commonly implicated in: –

1. Acute gastritis
2. Peptic ulcer (duodenal or gastric ulcer)

3. Chronic gastritis
4. Gastric cancer

The presence of this bacterium is expected to be seen in 50% of world’s population; more in developing countries. Therefore, early diagnosis is imperative to prevent complications of chronic disease. Urea breath test is a rapid diagnostic procedure which has good sensitivity and specificity.

Method

• 1. Patients are given a preparation of urea labelled with either radioactive carbon-14 or non-radioactive carbon-13.
• 2. In about 15–30 minutes, exhaled breath is assessed for isotope-labelled carbon dioxide.
• 3. Urea (preparation) is catabolised into carbon dioxide and ammonia by the urease (enzyme present in H.pylori)
• 4. The positivity of isotope labelled carbon dioxide in breath is evidence to indicate presence of infection.