Helicobacter Pylori Screen
What is Helicobacter pylori?
Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) is a bacteria that lives in the mucus that coats the lining of the stomach and duodenum. It can irritate the lining of the stomach causing inflammation and is a major causative factor in gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastric cancer and other forms of gastritis. It can pass from one person to the next, therfore the partner of the person infected by H.pylori should consider being tested.
What are the symptoms?
Some H.pylori infections are ‘silent’ and produce no symptoms, but when they do cause symptoms they are usually symptoms of gastritis or peptic ulcer disease.
Typical symptoms of gastritis include vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain. Peptic ulcers cause a gnawing or burning pain usually to the mid-stomach areas. The pain can last for minutes or hours and will often feel worse on an empty stomach. Many people assume they have heartburn, as antacid medicine will often relieve the symptoms.
How does the test work?
The Helicobacter pylori Screen is an ELISA technique used for the detection of serum antibodies to H.pylori. Most patients with H.pylori infections exhibit a strong immune response.
Locally, the antibodies are mostly of the IgA class but circulating antibodies are primarily IgG. The test provides a measure of the H.pylori specific IgG. Raised levels are a reliable indication of H.pylori infection.
Sample requirements and turn test turnaround.
Only a pin-prick blood sample is required. Results are available in 10 working days.