Help with question please.....

[nnj925]

Hi I took a blood test for H pylori and it came up negative..but I was on a nexium type of medication at the time...would this make a negative result occur? I thought I heard it said the blood test is the one test that it doesn't matter what med's you are on? I am not convinced that I do not have this. I have the acid pain/ feeling of hunger pain!!!!

[Helico_expert]

what you heard is right. blood test is simply detecting antibody against H. pylori. as long as you have H. pylori, it'll be positive. It's sensitive up to 95%.

so, even if you eradicated the H. pylori, but because had H. pylori before, your antibody will still be detected. you will still be positive for 1-3 years depending on your immune system.

H. pylori is only half of the reason for stomach ulcers. You can also check up for NSAID ulcers. Best is to do an endoscopy, get some biopsy, grow some bacteria, do some antibiotic test and get the right treatment.

[nnj925]

Thank you so much for your reply....

I was wondering though...if you happen to know...If I do the Endoscopy will it matter if I am on Nexium??? or will whatever I have...still show up? Will the nexium make me test negative for things?

[Helico_expert]

Hi, Nexium will reduce your acidity in your stomach. It may not kill off H. pylori, but there will be other bacteria growing in the stomach, making culture of H. pylori difficult.

so, when you are on any drug that reduce your stomach acid,
Breath test will fail
Clotest will fail (it's a biopsy H. pylori test)
H. pylori bacteria isolation will be very tricky.