It is very important that prior to any breath testing (except serology, i.e. the H.pylori antibody blood test) for H. pylori, you have not taken any antibiotics or Pepto Bismol /De-Nol for one month, Losec Nexium & other similar Proton Pump Inhibitors for one week, or Pepsid, Zantac, Axid, or Tagamet & other such H2 receptor antagonists for 24 hours before the breath tests are done.
To decide which is the best treatment for H. pylori, it may be necessary to do an endoscopy and take a biopsy (a small piece of tissue) from the lining of the stomach. This allows your doctor to grow your H. pylori in the laboratory and decide which antibiotic to use.
Diagnostic Tests: