Results from the urea breath test or a stool
antigen test are usually available within a few
hours. Results from a blood
antibody test are usually available within 24 hours.
Results from biopsy samples obtained by
endoscopy are usually available within 48 hours.
Results from a biopsy sample that is cultured can take up to 10 days.
Blood antibody test
The blood sample does not contain H. pylori antibodies.
H. pylori bacteria does not grow in
a culture of the tissue biopsy samples.
The biopsy sample contains H. pylori
H. pylori bacteria grows in a
culture of the tissue biopsy samples.
What Affects the Test
Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may
not be helpful include the following:
Most urea breath tests now use tagged carbon rather than radioactive carbon. If you are pregnant, the radioactive
urea breath test for H. pylori
is not usually done, because
the radiation could harm your child.
antibiotics may affect the results of the urea breath
test, the stool antigen test, and stomach
biopsy by reducing the number of H. pylori bacteria in the stomach and