Is a stool test or a blood test better for H. pylori?

For first-time testing, NICE recommends a stool antigen test or a breath test. Blood antibody tests cannot tell a current infection from a past one, so they can give misleading positive results.

Can I use this test to check my H. pylori treatment has worked?

NICE recommends a breath test rather than a stool test to check that treatment has worked, and does not recommend routine retesting for everyone. Talk to your GP if you have finished treatment and still have symptoms.

What happens if my result is positive?

A doctor reviews your result before it is emailed to you, with a note on what it means. Treatment is usually a 7-day course of antibiotics with an acid-reducing medicine, prescribed by your GP or specialist.

Urine, stool & swab tests

Private test

H. pylori Stool Test

A stool antigen test for Helicobacter pylori, a bacterial infection linked to indigestion and stomach ulcers.

1 biomarker
No fasting needed

£79Includes sample collection

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We confirm your appointment and any preparation, such as fasting, before you attend.

What’s included

1 biomarker in this test.

No fasting needed

Digestion & pancreas1

Pancreas function, coeliac disease screening, gut inflammation and H. pylori, a common stomach infection.

Helicobacter Pylori Antigen Stool

About this test

Is the H. pylori Stool Test right for you?

Who it’s for

You have ongoing indigestion, such as upper tummy pain, heartburn, bloating or feeling sick, and want to know whether H. pylori could be a cause.
You have had a stomach ulcer in the past and do not know whether you have been tested for H. pylori.
Your GP has suggested H. pylori testing and you would prefer to arrange it privately.
You want a test that looks for current infection, rather than a blood antibody test that can stay positive after an infection has gone.

What it can show

The test looks for H. pylori antigens, which are proteins from the bacteria, in a sample of your poo. A positive result suggests a current H. pylori infection.
NICE recommends a stool antigen test or a breath test for first-time H. pylori testing. Both were found to be accurate, with about 95% sensitivity and specificity in studies.
Blood antibody tests cannot tell a current infection from a past one, which is why NICE prefers stool or breath tests over them.

What it can’t tell you

Proton pump inhibitors (such as omeprazole or lansoprazole) taken in the last 2 weeks, or antibiotics taken in the last 4 weeks, can suppress H. pylori and give a falsely negative result.
H. pylori is only one cause of indigestion and ulcers. Regular use of anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen can also cause ulcers, so a negative result does not rule out an ulcer.
NICE recommends a breath test, rather than a stool test, to check whether treatment has cleared the infection. If you have already been treated, talk to your GP about which test is right for you.
This test is not for urgent symptoms. Call 999 (or 112) or go to an emergency department if you are vomiting blood or something that looks like coffee grounds, have black, sticky poo, or have severe tummy pain.
Results are interpreted alongside your symptoms. Treatment for H. pylori needs a prescription, which is arranged with your GP or specialist.

How it works

From booking to results in three steps.

Step 1
Request your test
Send a booking request online or call us. We confirm your clinic, appointment time and any preparation.
Step 2
Visit the clinic
A short appointment for professional sample collection at Greysteel or Letterkenny. No GP referral needed.
Step 3
Receive your results
Usually within a couple of working days, emailed to you once a doctor has reviewed them.

Common questions

Questions about this test.

Yes. NICE advises no proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole or lansoprazole, for 2 weeks before a stool or breath test, and no antibiotics for 4 weeks. If they were prescribed for you, check with your prescriber before stopping.