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Dyspepsia - unidentified cause - Management
Which test is recommended for Helicobacter pylori?
- For people who have not previously been diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori infection, test with:
- Urea breath test (unless they have received a proton pump inhibitor [PPI] in the past 14 days or an antibiotic in the past 28 days), or
- Stool antigen test (unless they have received a PPI in the past 14 days or an antibiotic in the past 28 days), or
- Laboratory serology testing (where the performance of the test has been locally validated).
- For people who have been previously diagnosed with H. pylori infection and treated with eradication therapy, re-test (if indicated) at least four weeks after treatment. Urea breath test is preferred. However, stool antigen test could be used if urea breath test is not available.
- Stop PPI use 14 days prior to testing. Withhold testing for 28 days after treatment with an antibiotic.
In depth
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