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25423 Helicobacter pylori Breath (UBT)

Helicobacter pylori Breath (UBT)
Test Code: UBTSO
Synonyms/Keywords
​13C Urea Breath Test, H. pylori Urea Breath Test, Ulcer Breath Test, Pylori, Helicobacter Breath Test, RET Helicobacter pylori Breath Test
Useful For
​Diagnostic testing for Helicobacter pylori infections in patients suspected to have active Helicobacter pylori infections or for monitoring response to therapy.
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)​​
Yes - 1 hour​ ​Breath ​Meretek UBT Test Specimen Collection Kit ​ ​Bag of "breath" must be full ​ ​
Collection Processing Instructions

*There will be an additional charge for the collection kit

Additional Information:

1. Patients should not have taken bismuth/Tritec, antibiotics, proton-pump inhibitors (Prilosec, Prevacid, Aciphex, Protonix and Nexium) or Pepto-Bismol for 2 weeks prior to testing.

2. If taking prescription levels of the H2-receptor antagonists (Pepcid, Tagamet, Axid, Zantac) it is suggested to move the low-dose, over the counter strength for 2 weeks prior to testing and not taking the dose on the day of the test.

3. Carafate (sucralfate) does not interfere with the test.

4. An alternative test for the diagnosis of active Helicobacter pylori infection in patients younger than 18 is the Helicobacter pylori Antigen, Feces.

5. Specimens from patients 3 - 17 years old must be accompanied by this information card.

Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Tim​​e
​Breath ​Ambient ​7 days
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentat​​ion
​Sent to Mayo Medical Laboratories ​Monday through Friday ​1 day ​Infrared Spectrophotometry
Reference Range Information
Negative
Interpretation

​The Helicobacter pylori urea breath test can detect very low levels of Helicobacter pylori and by assessing the entire gastric mucosa, avoids the risk of sampling errors inherent in biopsy-based methods.  In the absence of gastric Helicobacter pylori, the (13) C-urea does not produce (13)CO2 in the stomach.

A negative result does not rule out the possibility of Helicobacter pylori infection.  If clinical signs are suggestive of Helicobacter pylori infection, retest with a new specimen or by using an alternative method.

A false-postive test may occur due to urease associated with other gastric sprial organisms observed in humans such as Helicobacter heilmannii.

A false-positive test could occur in patients who have achlorhydria.

Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments​​
83013​ ​ ​1 ​ ​
Synonyms/Keywords
​13C Urea Breath Test, H. pylori Urea Breath Test, Ulcer Breath Test, Pylori, Helicobacter Breath Test, RET Helicobacter pylori Breath Test
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Desc​​ription
Clinical Order Manager​ ​Helicobacter pylori Breath
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)​​
Yes - 1 hour​ ​Breath ​Meretek UBT Test Specimen Collection Kit ​ ​Bag of "breath" must be full ​ ​
Collection Processing

*There will be an additional charge for the collection kit

Additional Information:

1. Patients should not have taken bismuth/Tritec, antibiotics, proton-pump inhibitors (Prilosec, Prevacid, Aciphex, Protonix and Nexium) or Pepto-Bismol for 2 weeks prior to testing.

2. If taking prescription levels of the H2-receptor antagonists (Pepcid, Tagamet, Axid, Zantac) it is suggested to move the low-dose, over the counter strength for 2 weeks prior to testing and not taking the dose on the day of the test.

3. Carafate (sucralfate) does not interfere with the test.

4. An alternative test for the diagnosis of active Helicobacter pylori infection in patients younger than 18 is the Helicobacter pylori Antigen, Feces.

5. Specimens from patients 3 - 17 years old must be accompanied by this information card.

Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Tim​​e
​Breath ​Ambient ​7 days
Useful For
​Diagnostic testing for Helicobacter pylori infections in patients suspected to have active Helicobacter pylori infections or for monitoring response to therapy.
Reference Range Information
Negative
Interpretation

​The Helicobacter pylori urea breath test can detect very low levels of Helicobacter pylori and by assessing the entire gastric mucosa, avoids the risk of sampling errors inherent in biopsy-based methods.  In the absence of gastric Helicobacter pylori, the (13) C-urea does not produce (13)CO2 in the stomach.

A negative result does not rule out the possibility of Helicobacter pylori infection.  If clinical signs are suggestive of Helicobacter pylori infection, retest with a new specimen or by using an alternative method.

A false-postive test may occur due to urease associated with other gastric sprial organisms observed in humans such as Helicobacter heilmannii.

A false-positive test could occur in patients who have achlorhydria.

For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentat​​ion
​Sent to Mayo Medical Laboratories ​Monday through Friday ​1 day ​Infrared Spectrophotometry
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments​​
83013​ ​ ​1 ​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.