H Pylori Antigen Stool Test

H. pylori, (helicobacter pylori) is a bacteria which is a common cause of peptic ulcers. H. pylori attacks the stomach lining, causing ulcers which may bleed, cause infections, or keep food from moving through the digestive tract. H. pylori can spread through contact with contaminated water or food and is more common in countries or communities that lack clean water or good sewage systems. Transmission can also occur through contact with the saliva or other body fluids of those who are infected. If you have an ulcer, you may feel a dull or burning pain in your stomach which may come and go. The burning sensation is more likely to occur when your stomach is empty, such as between meals or in the middle of the night.

This H. pylori stool test looks to identify whether H. pylori antigens, the substances that trigger your immune system to fight infection, are present in the gastrointestinal (GI) system which can indicate an active H pylori infection. If you are taking a proton-pump inhibitor (e.g. esomeprazole, omeprazole, lansoprazole) then you should stop taking it for two weeks prior to this test.