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The purpose of this study is to detect H. pylori in your stomach.
On arrival, you will be asked to swallow a capsule containing a small amount of radioactivity with a glass of water. Ten minutes after swallowing the capsule, a breath sample is collected in a special balloon. The breath sample will be analysed.
If you are pregnant, or you think you might be pregnant, or breast feeding we need to know before the procedure is initiated.
We would prefer that you do not bring more than one person with you. It is advisable not to have a pregnant woman or a small child with you. This is to avoid exposing them to unnecessary radiation. It is also preferable to avoid prolonged close contact (hugging a child / sitting with a child on your knee for more than half an hour) for the rest of the day.
You should not eat or drink anything for 6 hrs before the study except for water. Some medication should be stopped for a period of time before the test:- Antibiotics - 30 days, Bismuth - 30days,Sucralfate - 2weeks, Proton-pump inhibitors - 2 weeks, and Antiacid - 6h .The test should not be used on patients who have undergone restrictive gastric surgery.
The amount of radioactivity you receive in this study is strictly within the recommended national level. At this level, the benefit to you from a diagnosis of your condition outweighs the risk (negligible) of any harm associated with the radiation you will receive.
You may eat, drink and take your medication as normal.
The Nuclear Medicine doctor will report on the study, which will be sent to the doctor who requested the study. He/she will be able to discuss the results with you in relation to other tests you may have had.