Additional Info: Patient preparation: For initial diagnostic purposes, no special patient preparation is required. Patients are not required to be off of medications or to fast before this test. While positive test results from patients taking agents such as proton pump inhibitors and antimicrobials should be considered accurate, false negative results may be obtained. For this reason, physicians may suggest the patient go off medications for two weeks and repeat test if negative results are obtained.
To confirm eradication, testing should be done at least 4 weeks following the completion of treatment. However, a positive test result 7 days post therapy is indicative of treatment failure.
This test is cleared for use with specimens from pediatric patients.
Useful For:
Colonization with H. pylori is associated with increased risk of patients developing gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric adenocarcinoma. Stool antigen testing provides a sensitive measure of infection including during and after treatment.
Methodology: Immunoassay
Specimen Requirements: Collect 0.5 mL of semi-solid stool or 20 mm diameter solid stool and transfer to properly labeled sterile, leak-proof container. Transport refrigerated (cold packs) up to 3 days. Frozen if delay exceeds 3 days.
Do not place stool in preservative, transport media, or swab. Watery, diarrheal stool is not acceptable.
NOTE: If received frozen, do not thaw.
Analytical Time: 2 days
Days Set Up: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
CPT Information:
87338 –