What is the urea breath test and what does it detect Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe What is the urea breath test and what does it detect Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M.D., MPH — By Amanda Barrell on September 5, 2022A urea breath test is one way doctors may test for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. H. pylori is a type of bacterium that can cause digestive disorders. This article will explain the test, who might need one, and how doctors carry it out. It will also look at the treatment options for H. pylori infection. What is the urea breath test Share on Pinterestmarekuliasz/Getty ImagesThe urea breath test (UBT) is a diagnostic tool. Doctors use it to see if a person has an H. pylori infection. They may recommend the test to detect the infection or check how well treatment is working. The H. pylori bacterium converts urea, a naturally occurring compound, into carbon dioxide. Before the test, the person will take a tablet or liquid containing specially-labeled urea. The test then detects whether a person exhales carbon dioxide with the same label. Other ways doctors may test for H. pylori include:blood testsstool testsendoscopy What is H pylori H. pylori is a bacterium that can cause an infection of the digestive system. More than 50% of the world’s population and around 30% of people in the United States have the bacterium in their gut. H. pylori mainly lives in people. However, individuals can pass the infection on through contaminated food or water. While most people catch it from another household member, many have had it since childhood. Many people with the infection never experience symptoms. For others, the bacteria can cause:gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach liningpeptic ulcers, which are sores in the stomach, small intestine, or esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomachstomach cancer Learn more about H. pylori here. Who needs a test Doctors will usually recommend a UBT if someone has the following symptoms:stomach painbloatingdiarrhealoss of appetitenausea and vomitingunexplained weight loss People already receiving H. pylori treatment may take a UBT to see if the infection is improving. A UBT is suitable for adults and children, but children must be able to swallow the capsule whole and blow through a straw. No studies have examined whether a UBT is safe for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Doctors will only recommend the test for these individuals if necessary. What does the urea breath test involve During a UBT, the person will:exhale into a breath sample collection bag through a strawswallow a pill or liquid, without chewing, that contains the specially-labeled urea compoundsexhale into another breath sample collection bag 10–15 minutes later A laboratory will then compare the two samples. If the second sample contains more carbon dioxide than the first, the person may have an H. pylori infection. Preparing for the test Some people will need to stop taking certain medications 2 weeks to 1 month before having a UBT. Examples of these medications include:antibioticsproton pump inhibitors (PPIs)sucralfateantihistamines People should speak with a doctor about which medications to stop taking and when. Doctors will also usually recommend not eating for 6 hours before the test. After the test After the UBT, the person will be free to leave the healthcare clinic and resume their everyday activities. A UBT does not affect a person’s ability to drive, and there is no recovery period. Getting the results If the UBT is negative, the person does not have an H. pylori infection. Doctors will use other tests to find the cause of the symptoms. If the UBT is positive, the person may have an H. pylori infection. The doctor will usually perform a second test to be sure. This may be a blood test or a stool test. Sometimes, the doctor may recommend an endoscopy. During this test, a healthcare professional inserts a long, thin, and flexible tube into the gut via the throat. The tube will have a light and a camera on the end, so the healthcare professional can inspect the person’s digestive system. Treatment Doctors will recommend people with H. pylori infection take medication. This usually involves taking a PPI drug and the antibiotics amoxicillin and clarithromycin for 2 weeks. Doctors will then check to see if the infection has gone, usually by carrying out another UBT. If it has not, the person will need to take more medication. A person can talk with a doctor about using over-the-counter pain-relief medications if their infection is causing pain. Learn about the best natural H. pylori treatments here. Outlook H. pylori infection is treatable in most cases. However, it may take more than one course of medication. The National Library of Medicine warns that H. pylori treatment can be complex. However, it is important that people take all medications as a doctor recommends, even if the symptoms improve. If the bacterium stays in the gut, it can cause peptic ulcers or stomach cancers. Doctors usually recommend a UBT 4 weeks after the treatment ends to ensure the bacterium has gone. Summary A UBT is a test for H. pylori infection. Lots of people have this infection, but only some will have symptoms. The UBT is a noninvasive breath test that takes around 15 minutes. If the person tests positive for H. pylori, doctors usually want to confirm the result with a blood or stool test. Treatment involves taking antibiotics and PPIs. It can be complex, but it is usually successful. If the bacterium remains, it can lead to peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. Last medically reviewed on September 5, 2022Cancer / OncologyGastroIntestinal / GastroenterologyInfectious Diseases / Bacteria / Virusesgastric 8 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Endoscopy. (2016).https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/919.00.pdfHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori) tests. (2021).https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/helicobacter-pylori-h-pylori-tests/Hu, Yi., et al. (2020). Recent progress in Helicobacter pylori treatment.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7004604/Matsumoto., H., et al. (2020).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6918954/Parikh, N. S., et al. (2021). Helicobacter pylori.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534233/PYTEST- urea, c-14 capsule. (2022).https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=13148b04-9295-41bb-bd8b-76dbd4ce7c00Sankararaman, S., et al. (2021). Urea breath test.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542286/Urea breath test (helicobacter pylori). (n.d.).https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/your-visit/patient-leaflets/surgery-services/urea-breath-test-helicobacter-pyloriFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M.D., MPH — By Amanda Barrell on September 5, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related Coverage11 foods that are easy to digestMedically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R.D., L.D. Some health conditions, such as acid reflux, can make it hard for people to digest food. What are the best foods to eat when this happens? 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