Helicobacter pylori – serum antibodies

Do you have burning or pain in the upper abdomen, bloating or feel full quickly? This blood test shows whether your body has encountered Helicobacter pylori, a common cause of stomach inflammation and ulcers. You do not need to stop stomach medicines for it, and results are positive or negative.

Who is this test for

• people with persistent upper abdominal symptoms: burning, pain, nausea, bloating or early fullness;
• people with a history of stomach or duodenal ulcers who have never been tested for H. pylori;
• people taking acid-reducing medicines who cannot stop them, making a stool test unreliable;
• for iron- or vitamin B12-deficiency anaemia with no other cause identified by the doctor, and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP);
• close relatives of people who have had stomach cancer;
• before long-term acetylsalicylic acid or anti-inflammatory medicines if you previously had an ulcer, as recommended by the doctor.

What the test reveals

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium living on the stomach lining and is very widespread, particularly among older people. Most infected people have no symptoms, but it causes chronic stomach inflammation, is a common cause of ulcers and the most important known risk factor for stomach cancer. Eradicating it reduces that risk. Read more about the bacterium on the page Helicobacter pylori.

The test looks for antibodies produced against the bacterium. This shows whether you have encountered H. pylori. Antibodies remain in blood for months and often years after successful treatment, so the test does not distinguish current from past infection.

The test and preparation

The sample is blood from a vein, and collection takes a few minutes. Fasting is unnecessary. Unlike stool testing, you do not need to stop proton pump inhibitors (such as pantoprazole or omeprazole) or antibiotics before blood collection. If tests requiring fasting, such as glucose, are performed from the same sample, attend in the morning after fasting.

What your results mean

• A negative result means antibodies were not found and infection is unlikely. If symptoms persist, the doctor investigates another cause.
• A positive result means you have encountered the bacterium, currently or previously. If you have never been treated for H. pylori, the doctor may decide on treatment or first confirm active infection with a stool antigen test or breath test.
• A positive result after treatment is expected and does not mean treatment failed. According to guidelines, treatment success is checked using stool or breath testing no earlier than 4 weeks after treatment.

The doctor interprets results with your symptoms and other findings. If you notice unintentional weight loss, difficulty swallowing or repeated vomiting, see a doctor without delay. Black stools or vomiting blood are an emergency: call 194 or 112.

How to arrange testing

You can come for blood collection without an appointment or referral at one of our branches throughout Croatia (listed on the Contactpage). Prices for all tests and panels are listed in the price list. If you want a broader stomach and intestinal assessment, the Digestive panel includes H. pylori antibody typing, a Gastro panel, faecal calprotectin and faecal occult blood.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between blood and stool testing?

The stool test looks for the bacterium itself and shows active infection, so it is also used for follow-up after treatment, but some medicines must be stopped beforehand. Blood testing shows both current and past infection and is unaffected by stomach medicines.

Can I use this test to check whether treatment worked?

This test is not intended for that purpose because antibodies remain positive long after successful treatment. Guidelines recommend stool antigen or breath testing for follow-up.

Must I stop stomach medicines before testing?

No. This is the main advantage of blood testing when acid-reducing medicines cannot be stopped.

Should I take antibiotics immediately if the result is positive?

Not on your own initiative. Your doctor decides on treatment, because the medicine combination also depends on antibiotics you previously took. Read more about symptoms and treatment in the article on gastritis.