Breath test
What is Nuclear Medicine breath testing?
Urea Breath Test
Urea breath test is used to detect the presence of a bacteria called Helicobacter Pylori that can cause peptic ulcers.
Patients’ will be asked to swallow a tablet containing carbon (C13 or C14) labelled urea. It won’t make you feel any differently. 15 minutes later a breath sample is taken where you blow into a tube or into solution.
Triolein Breath Test
Triolein breath test is an investigative test for fat malabsorption.
Patients’ will be asked to drink a small cup of a high fat drink with C13 labelled Triolein. The absorption of the fats (triglycerides) is measured by collecting a breath sample (by blowing into a tube) every hour for 6 hours.
Xylose Breath Test
Xylose breath test is a test to diagnose small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
The patient will be asked to consume a sugary drink containing C13 labelled sugar (xylose). A breath sample (by blowing into a tube) is collected 30 minutes later.