EVALUATION OF A 20 MINUTE C-14 UREA BREATH TEST FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION

The use of C-14-urea breath testing for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylo ri infection in gastric mucosa has gained widespread acceptance and ut ilisation, We evaluated a 14C urea breath test (UBT) in 116 patients u ndergoing endoscopy, Seventy four patients were administered 185 kBq ( 5 mCi - conventional dose), and 42 patients reduced dose (92.5 IBq, 2. 5 mCi) of ''C-urea. All were tested for H. pylori using culture, direc t microscopy of gastric biopsies and histological evaluation of paraff in stained sections, Using the mean + three standard deviations as the cut-offvalue, a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 100% was found for the conventional dose test, At reduced dose, sensitivity was 100% and specificity 96%. Positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 93% for the conventional dose test, and 96% and 100% for testing at reduced dose. We conclude that the UBT is a simple, non-invasive an d useful diagnostic alternative for detection of H. pylori in infected patients, We advocate its use in patients less than 45 years of age w ithout alarm symptoms, and also in cases where the need for endoscopic evaluation is not vital, such as after eradication therapy.