Urea Breath Test (UBT) refers to the test used to detect the presence of Helicobacter Pylori (H Pylori), a common stomach bacteria.
In 1983, Barry Marshall and Bob Warren established the relationship between H pylori and ulcer, for which they were awarded the Nobel prize in 2005. H Pylori is the main cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer.
H Pylori can be detected through a variety of methods, both invasive and non-invasive. UBT is considered by leading experts to be the golden standard for H Pylori detection based on the high accuracy, specificity, testing time and convenience, both to diagnose H Pylori and to confirm eradication post-treatment.
In 1983, Barry Marshall and Bob Warren established the relationship between H pylori and ulcer, for which they were awarded the Nobel prize in 2005. H Pylori is the main cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer.
H Pylori can be detected through a variety of methods, both invasive and non-invasive. UBT is considered by leading experts to be the golden standard for H Pylori detection based on the high accuracy, specificity, testing time and convenience, both to diagnose H Pylori and to confirm eradication post-treatment.
H Pylori neutralises its immediate acidic microenvironment through urea hydrolysis, which is the basis for the Urea Breath Test:
- Patient exhales to establish a baseline measurement (tube, bag or breath card)
- Patient swallows 13C Urea tablet or solution and waits
- H Pylori produces an enzyme, urease, which catalyzes the urea molecule into ammonia & CO2
- Patient exhales 13C labelled CO2 (tube, bag or breath card)
- The H Pylori-mediated creation of CO2 is measured by an analyzer (e.g. IR, Mass Spectrometry) and H Pylori diagnosis can be made based on the difference between the live and baseline exhalations
Diabact UBT is a patented 13C Urea-containing formulation from Kibion that enjoys a number of advantages compared to other Urea Breath Tests, such as:
- No need for a test meal (such as orange juice, citric acid)
- No mixing of solution (urea powder + liquid)
- Only 10 minutes wait (compared with 30+ minutes)
- Specificity 100 % / sensitivity 98%
Diabact UBT is available in different presentations: a pack of ten tablets for institutions with the necessary analytical infrastructure, and a kit containing all the necessary components to test for H Pylori infections, with analysis and return of the result included in the service.
The Diabact UBT kit test procedure is as follows:
The Diabact UBT kit test procedure is as follows:
- Inhale and hold the breath briefly before exhaling into the base line tubes (blue tops). Screw top back on. Repeat for both blue-top tubes.
- Swallow tablet whole with a glass of water.
- Wait for 10 minutes. Note: do not smoke or drink any carbonated drinks in the interval
- Inhale and hold the breath briefly before exhaling into the sample tubes (red tops). Screw top back on. Repeat for both red-top tubes.
- Fill out the patient insert with patient / requestor identifiers
- Include one barcode label in the package, and retain one for tracking purposes
- Send tubes for analysis to the laboratory (freepost address label included in the package)
The following video outlines the procedure in further detail:
Please consult the SPC (available on the MHRA website here) for further information, including preparations such as fasting status and concomitant medications to avoid.
The Seahorse Academy offers a free eLearning course expanding on the clinical context and practicalities of urea breath testing, ensuring clinical practitioners are fully accredited in the use of Diabact.
You can purchase Diabact from our online store.
For additional queries please contact us.
The Seahorse Academy offers a free eLearning course expanding on the clinical context and practicalities of urea breath testing, ensuring clinical practitioners are fully accredited in the use of Diabact.
You can purchase Diabact from our online store.
For additional queries please contact us.