Helicobacter pylori Breath Test
In collaboration with BIOS, Federfarma Roma, and Alfasigma
The test costs €55 and requires an appointment.
Fabio Massimo Pharmacy, in collaboration with BIOS, Federfarma Lazio, and Alfasigma, offers the Helicobacter pylori breath test.
What is it?
The breath test is a simple, non-invasive, and highly accurate examination used to detect infection with Helicobacter pylori—a spiral-shaped, acid-tolerant, gram-negative bacterium that can colonize the lining of the stomach.
Although sometimes asymptomatic, the infection may lead to hyperacidity, gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux, or ulcers in the stomach and duodenum (painful lesions).
Transmission routes are not yet fully understood, but the infection is believed to spread mainly through oral, oro-fecal pathways, and contact with contaminated water or instruments.
The most common symptom of peptic ulcer disease is a burning sensation or pain in the upper abdomen, especially on an empty stomach and during the early hours of the day. Less common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and bleeding, which may lead over time to anemia.
If left untreated, H. pylori infection can increase the risk of gastric cancer and extranodal marginal zone lymphoma by 2 to 6 times, as reported by the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità).
How does the test work?
The test involves collecting the patient’s exhaled breath with a 5-second blow. The patient is then given the diagnostic product Expirobacter by Alfasigma (AIC 034183018), which contains a urea tablet with citric acid dissolved in water. After 30 minutes, a second breath sample is collected.
For more details, the official AIFA information sheet is available [here].
The collected samples are sent by Fabio Massimo Pharmacy to BIOS Laboratories for analysis, and the report is delivered to the patient as soon as it becomes available.
Patient preparation
For the test to be accurate, patients must avoid antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors (such as Omeprazole, Lansoprazole, Rabeprazole, Esomeprazole, Pantoprazole), and Famotidine for at least one month before the exam. Treatments specifically targeting H. pylori must be completed at least three months beforehand.
The day before the test, only the following foods are allowed (unless otherwise instructed by a physician or in case of individual dietary restrictions):
Breakfast: barley coffee, tea, plain biscuits, toasted bread
Lunch: rice or pasta with olive oil
Dinner: white meat (chicken, rabbit, or turkey), fish, rice with olive oil
On the day of the test, patients must fast for at least 8 hours and must not brush their teeth. Only still mineral water may be consumed up to 2 hours before the exam.
Smokers should refrain from smoking from the evening before the test.
For afternoon appointments, breakfast is allowed at least 8 hours before the test.
A detailed preparation guide will be sent to the email address provided at booking.