Urea breath test

This test helps diagnose the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) in the digestive tract. Your child swallows a capsule containing urea. If H.pylori is present in the stomach, then the urea will be converted into nitrogen and carbon. The carbon changes to carbon dioxide and moves into the bloodstream and then into the lungs where it is exhaled. Your child breathes into a balloon and the amount of carbon in the breath is measured. A positive test, meaning carbon is present, indicates the presence of H.pylori. A negative test, meaning no carbon is detected, indicates no H.pylori is present.

Related conditions:

• Helicobacter pylori
• Peptic ulcers