Notes on Carbon 13 vs. Carbon 14

Carbon 13 and Carbon 14 Breath Test is a non-invasive method of detecting Helicobacter pylori. Precautions for Carbon 13 and Carbon 14 Breath Test such as radioactivity cannot be used on pregnant women, fasting is required before the test, and antibiotics taken before the test need to be stopped. The Carbon 3 and Carbon 14 breath tests are more stable for Carbon 13 but radioactive for Carbon 14. Therefore, it is recommended that children under the age of 10 and pregnant women should not undergo this test. The Carbon 13 and Carbon 14 Breath Tests require the patient to fast for at least two hours to prevent food in the stomach from affecting the test results. If you have taken bismuth such as bismuth potassium citrate or antibiotics such as amoxicillin, you should stop taking them for at least one month, and proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole should be stopped for at least two weeks to avoid false-negative results from the antibiotics. The examinee must ask the doctor in detail before performing this test to avoid inaccurate final results.