What it shows and what it doesn't show
Helicobacter pylori is the main cause of chronic gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers and a risk factor for gastric cancer. IgG antibodies appear several weeks after infection and indicate exposure to the bacterium. The method is convenient as a screening: only blood is required, endoscopy and drug withdrawal are not needed. However, there is a fundamental limitation: antibodies remain in the blood for months and years after successful treatment, so a positive result does not distinguish between a current and past infection, and the method is not at all suitable for controlling eradication. To confirm an active infection and evaluate the outcome of treatment, a urease breath test or stool antigen determination is used.
How to prepare to donate blood
- on an empty stomach 8–12 hours, you can drink water
- Eliminate alcohol and intense exercise per day
- no smoking in an hour
- donate blood before physiotherapy, x-rays and massage
- Take medications in advance by agreeing with your doctor
How to read the result
Reference values depend on the method and equipment of the laboratory, so it is correct to compare results only within the same laboratory. A deviation of a few percent from the normal limit in itself rarely matters - the overall picture and dynamics are important.
The analysis must be interpreted by a doctor: an isolated indicator without a clinical context is often misleading and leads to unnecessary examinations.