How Reliable Are the ¹⁴C-Urea Breath Test and Specific Serology for the Detection of Gastric Campylobacter?

Abstract

Detection of gastric Campylobacter by the ¹⁴C-urea breath test and serology were correlated to biopsy culture in 25 unselected outpatients referred for gastroscopy. All the 17 culture-positive patients had positive ¹⁴C-urea breath test, and 16 had positive serology. Of eight culture-negative patients, six patients had negative breath test and seven negative serology. A high degree of reproducibility was found when two subsequent breath tests were performed in 11 healthy volunteers. The breath test values obtained at 10 min showed a strong correlation (r = 0.97, p < 0.001) to the accumulated values within 30 min. Breath sampling once, 10 min after intake of 2.5 μCi ¹⁴C-urea, seems sufficient for the detection of gastric Campylobacter. The ¹⁴C-urea breath test correlates well with biopsy culture and provides a sensitive tool for the detection of gastric Campylobacter. Serology also corresponds well with biopsy culture and should provide a useful tool for epidemiologic studies.

Key Words:

• Breath test
• Campylobacter pylori
• culture
• serology
• ¹⁴C-urea breath test