WHAT'S THE BEST TEST?

There isn't a single, universally accurate test for identifying H. pylori infection. Certainly, there are some great tests but they all have pros and cons from the perspectives of cost, accuracy and convenience.

I have personally found a Stool Antigen Tests to be most effective in dentifying H. pylori infections. I use this test because it was recommended to me by a fantastic doctor. It seems to find H. pylori – and many other bugs – where other tests fail. It provides a much more complete picture of what might be living in your digestive system! The other tests look for H. pylori ONLY.

• Blood Antibody Test
This test is commonly used by doctors. If you become infected by H. pylori, your body will immediately make lots of antibodies to fight the bug. By testing for the antibodies, it is possible to determine whether you have an infection. Sometimes, however, you may get a false positive reading because the antibodies can still be present for up to three years even if the infection has gone! Drugs may be prescribed even though the infection is not there, which can cause many side-effects. Because the test requires a blood sample, it is not particularly convenient and may be stressful for those people who do not like needles.

• Urea Breath Test
You can perform a urea breath test for H. pylori. This is a simple test, but having liaised with some of the world’s leading experts on H. pylori, the consensus is that this test often misses the bug. It seems that the test is only really effective if there is a severe or acute infection. It is less useful for prolonged or chronic infections.

• Stomach Biopsy
A small sample (biopsy) is taken from the lining of your stomach and small intestine during an endoscopy (a tube is placed down your throat into your stomach and a small piece of tissue is cut from your stomach lining). Several different tests may be done on the biopsy sample. The major disadvantage of this test is that it must be performed in a clinic or hospital and is not a pleasant experience. It is known that H pylori can live in ‘patches’ and samples from uninfected areas may be taken, again missing the bug.

• Stool Antigen Test
This is the test that helped me diagnose my own H pylori infection and it’s great because you can perform it in the comfort of your own home. You submit a series of stool samples to the lab and the stool is analyzed for fragments or in tact H. pylori organisms. The results are very clear. If the test is positive, it means that you have an active H pylori infection, without any doubt.

The stool antigen test can also identify the presence of many other bacteria and parasites. None of the other tests convey this advantage. Sometimes, all the signs or symptoms may add up to an H pylori infection, but when the test result comes back from the lab, it’s actually a different bug that’s causing the problem, either on its own or alongside H. pylori. For example:

Blastocystis hominis (very common alongside H. pylori)
Giardia lamblia
Cryptosporidium parvum
Entamoeba histolytica
E. coli
Candida albicans (is a yeast that is often present alongside H. pylori and ALWAYS overgrows in the intestines after a course of antibiotics. It can cause the same symptoms as H. pylori!)

You can see what it's beneficial to use the stool antigen tests. They provide a much wider picture of what's going on inside your digestive system. Once you have this information, it's much easier to follow a specific natural health program to eradicate the bugs in the right order.

For details of how to order this test, please email me at dave@davehompes.com