Helicobacter Pylori Normal Range And Detection Methods

There are several methods available for detecting Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, with the most common being the carbon-13 and carbon-14 urea breath tests. These two tests have different standard value ranges. For the carbon-13 breath test, a result of 0–4 dpm (disintegrations per minute) is considered normal, and anything above 4 dpm indicates an H. pylori infection. In contrast, the carbon-14 breath test has a higher threshold, with results below 100 dpm considered negative and values exceeding 100 dpm classified as positive for H. pylori.

Other diagnostic tools include endoscopic biopsy with rapid urease testing, where a negative result is considered normal, and a positive result typically shows between 1 to 4 plus signs (+). Additionally, serum antibody testing can detect whether a person has current or past exposure to H. pylori. In this method, a negative result means no infection, while a positive outcome suggests either an ongoing or previous infection.

It's important to note that in clinical practice, the bacterial load is not used as a criterion for determining the need for eradication therapy. H. pylori is a major cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and is even linked to an increased risk of gastric cancer. Therefore, individuals diagnosed with these conditions who test positive for H. pylori should consider undergoing treatment to eliminate the bacteria. Early detection and intervention are key to preventing long-term complications associated with this common yet potentially harmful infection.