New Breath Test Detects H.Pylori in 10 minutes

The BreathIDHp Test

According to experts, Helicobacter pylori infection is the main reason behind the development of 80% of stomach ulcers and 90% of duodenal ulcers in people around the world. In the US alone, 20% of the people under the age of 40 and 50% of the people above the age of 60 are infected by this bacterium, as per the statistics given by the National Institutes of Health. Some of these people go on to develop stomach and duodenal cancers. Therefore, it is suggested that all symptomatic cases of Helicobacter pylori infection should be treated at the earliest. However, for diagnosing the infection, the patients had to undergo a battery of tests which included blood and stool tests, barium meal studies and even endoscopies. These tests were conducted over a few days and also involved more expenses. Moreover, results may take days to weeks before getting reported.

However, a new test developed by Exalenz Bioscience, is set to revolutionize the way Helicobacter pylori infection was diagnosed till now. The test is a type of breath test which analyzes the patient’s exhale and based on this, can detect the presence or absence of the infection in less than 10 minutes. The test goes by the name of BreathIDHp test.

For undergoing a BreathIDHp test, the patient is asked to drink a mixture containing radioactive carbon. The patient is then asked to exhale in a device after around fifteen minutes and his exhale is analyzed for levels of radioactive carbon. There are significant changes in the levels of radioactive carbon and carbon dioxide present in the air exhaled by a person suffering from Helicobacter pylori infection. The major advantage of this test is that the results can be seen in less than ten minutes and it is completely non-invasive. Another advantage of the test is that as the results can be seen faster, treatment can also be initiated much earlier.

The BreathIDHp test is quite simple to carry out and can be carried out by any person by simply following the instructions displayed on the screen. The entire kit is very compact and does not occupy much space. It can be easily kept on a small table or countertop either at the physician’s office or in a clinical laboratory. The results are completely compatible with electronic medical records.

Guidelines to be followed before the breath test

There are certain guidelines to be followed before undergoing the breath test. These include:

• The patient should refrain from taking any antibiotics or oral Bismuth subsalicylate for around four weeks before the test.
• The patient should avoid proton pump inhibitors like Omeprazole, lansoprazole and pantoprazole for at least two weeks before the test is conducted.
• The patient should not eat or drink anything one hour before the test.

It is important to follow these instructions as the medicines may interfere with the results of the test.

Read More: Helicobacter pylori: The Bacteria that Cause Ulcers

In case the BreathIDHp test comes positive, it indicates that the patient is suffering from helicobacter pylori infection. The physician then prescribes antibiotics to cure the infection. The test is normally repeated a month after the course of antibiotics to rule out any residual infection.

What Is Helicobacter Pylori Infection?

Helicobacter pylori is a spiral bacterium responsible for most of the cases of stomach and duodenal ulcers. The bacterium is believed to spread through food and water. It is common in crowded places where many people live in close quarters. Although helicobacter pylori infection is most common in developing countries, it affects a significant portion of the population of the developed world too.

The bacteria penetrate the mucus membrane lining the stomach. Once inside, they produce enzymes which further damage the membrane. As the protective lining of the stomach thins out, it becomes more susceptible to be damaged by the hydrochloric acid produced in the stomach. Due to the action of the acid, the membrane is damaged further and large gastric ulcers are formed. These ulcers, if left untreated may progress to form stomach cancer.

Symptoms of Helicobacter pylori infection

In majority of cases, the infection largely remains asymptomatic. However, in some people, it may produce the following symptoms:

• Severe pain in the upper abdomen because of ulcers. The pain is more pronounced when the stomach is empty and the acid is acting on the ulcer. It gets relieved on eating food, drinking milk or taking antacids.
• Apart from pain, the patient may complain of loss of appetite, bloating of the abdomen and frequent burping.
• Because of severe acidity, the patient may complain of nausea and vomiting.
• If the ulcer is very deep, the vomitus may be coffee brown in color because of presence of blood.
• Persistent loss of blood may lead to anemia in long term.
• Sudden rapid blood loss may lead to hypovolumic shock.
• In case the ulcer progresses to cancer, patient may complain of weight loss apart from other signs of malignancy.

Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection

Traditionally, helicobacter pylori used to be diagnosed on the basis of several tests which included:

• Blood test: The blood is tested for the presence of antibodies against helicobacter.
• Stool test: Stool is tested to find any evidence of infection.
• Barium meal study: This is done to find out if the patient has developed any ulcers. The patient is asked to swallow a fluid containing barium which is radio-opaque. X-ray examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract is done at short intervals to visualize the passage of barium meal through the gut.
• Endoscopy: During endoscopy, the upper GI tract is directly visualized with the help of camera and biopsy of suspicious part is taken which is then sent for pathological examination.

Read More: Helicobacter pylori associated diseases

These tests are carried out over a few days and the reports usually come in days to weeks. The latest test for helicobacter pylori involves urea breath test. Urea labeled with radioactive 13C is administered to the patient. The bacteria produce large amounts of enzyme urease. This hydrolyzes urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide which are detected in the breath test.