What is H Pylori?
If a GP thinks a patient may have a stomach ulcer, they may test for an Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.
They may recommend one of the following tests:
- a urea breath test
- a stool antigen test – a small stool sample is tested for the bacteria
- a blood test – a sample of your blood is tested for antibodies to the H. pylori bacteria (antibodies are proteins produced naturally in your blood and help to fight infection); this has now largely been replaced by the stool antigen test
If a patient tests positive for H. pylori, they need treatment to clear it, which can heal the ulcer and prevent it returning.
