What Does an H. pylori Test Result Mean?

What it means

Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacteria that can live in the lining of the stomach, often for years without symptoms. In some people it causes inflammation of the stomach (gastritis) or stomach and duodenal ulcers. An H. pylori test looks for signs of this germ in your breath, stool, blood or a small tissue sample taken during an endoscopy.

Doctors order it for indigestion, upper stomach pain, ulcers or sometimes anemia. The report usually says positive, negative or detected or not detected, and names the method, such as a urea breath test or a stool antigen test. Breath and stool tests show a current infection. Some medicines, such as acid-reducing tablets and antibiotics, can hide the germ, so the test instructions often ask about them.

A blood antibody test is different: it shows that your body has met the germ at some point, but antibodies can stay for a long time after the infection has gone. That is why breath or stool tests are often preferred to check whether the germ is still there.

Where you may see it

• Lab results labelled 'Urea breath test' or 'H. pylori stool antigen'
• Endoscopy and stomach biopsy reports that mention a rapid urease test or Helicobacter organisms
• Gastroenterology clinic letters about indigestion or ulcers
• Preparation leaflets that ask about recent antibiotics and acid-reducing medicines