The full name of the Carbon 13 test is the Carbon 13 Breath Test, which is commonly used to check for Helicobacter pylori infection.
The Carbon 13 Urea Breath Test is a non-invasive test that is performed on a sample of the patient’s breath through an oral reagent. The test is performed by having the patient blow once into a gas bag or test tube to collect the gas, then having the patient take a carbon-13 labeled urea capsule, sit still for 30 minutes, breathe out again, and collect the gas for testing.
Carbon 13 urea breath test should be fasting or at least fasting and water fasting for more than 2 hours before the test, and prohibited to take antibiotic drugs and bismuth agent one month before the test, so as not to affect the test results.
Carbon 13 urea breath test is a method used to detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach, if there is Helicobacter pylori in the stomach, it will break down the urea taken, and the carbon dioxide gas exhaled will contain the labeled carbon 13. If the result of the test is positive, it means that there is Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach.
H. pylori infection is closely related to the occurrence of gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric cancer and other diseases. Therefore, if the carbon 13 urea breath test is positive, it is necessary to consult a doctor in time for H. pylori eradication treatment under the guidance of a doctor.