14C-urea breath test as a method to detect Campylobacter pylori colonization.

Campylobacter pylori may cause type B gastritis. C. pylori produces urease, and the presence of this enzyme in gastric mucosal biopsies is a marker for colonization with the microorganism. The value of a breath test to detect C. pylori colonization in non-ulcer dyspepsia patients was investigated. We compared the 14C-urea breath test with the culture results obtained from antral mucosal biopsies. The 14C-urea breath test is comparable to culture results in detecting C. pylori colonization.