Limitations to carbon 13-labeled urea breath testing for Helicobacter pylori in infants.
We determined the validity of the carbon 13-labeled urea breath test in young children. We found that although the 13C-labeled urea breath test had a specificity greater than 90%, borderline or false positive results occurred more frequently in children younger than 2 years compared with older children. False positive results may be caused by oral-urease-producing organisms because direct intragastric administration of 13C urea reduced the excess delta 13CO2. Care is urged in interpreting one positive 13C-labeled urea breath test in children younger than 2 years.
Imrie
C
C
Department of Paediatrics, The Conway Institute of Molecular and Biomedical Research, University College, Dublin, Ireland.
Rowland
M
M
Bourke
B
B
Drumm
B
B
D001944:Breath Tests; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D002247:Carbon Isotopes