Test Overview
Clinical Utility
Colonization with H. pylori is associated with increased risk of patients developing gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric adenocarcinoma. Stool antigen testing provides a sensitive measure of infection including during and after treatment. This test is cleared for use with specimens from pediatric patients.
Method
Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)
Result Included
Helicobacter pylori Antigen
Aliases/Synonyms
H. pylori
Specimen
Specimen Type
FecesVolume
Sample Volume
0.5 g
Patient Preparation
For initial diagnostic purposes no special patient preparation is required. Patients are not required to be off of medications or to fast before this test. While positive test results from patients taking agents such as proton pump inhibitors and antimicrobials should be considered accurate, false negative results may be obtained with recent PPI use. For this reason, physicians may suggest the patient go off medications for two weeks and repeat test if negative results are obtained.
Collection & Handling
Collection Instructions
Collect specimen in sterile leak-proof container. Do not place stool in preservative, transport media or swab. Refer to Patient Preparation document prior to collection: Patient Preparation Instructions
Handling Information
Store and send frozen
Stability
| Ambient | Refrigerated | Frozen |
|---|---|---|
| 4 days | 4 days | 14 days |
Rejection Criteria
| Criteria | Specification |
|---|---|
| Specimen | Watery or diarrheal stool |
Performance & Interpretation
Turnaround Time
5 days
Results
-
Helicobacter pylori AntigenQualitative TestNot Detected
Comment
While positive test results from patients taking agents such as proton pump inhibitors and antimicrobials should be considered accurate, false negative results may be obtained. For this reason, physicians may suggest the patient go off medications for two weeks and repeat test if negative results are obtained.
To confirm eradication, testing should be done at least 4 weeks following the completion of treatment. However, a positive test result 7 days post therapy is indicative of treatment failure.
Referral Location
Out-of-Country
Test Version
Last Updated
2022-04-05