Interní Med. 2006; 8(7): 336-341

Breath tests - the modern, non-invasive diagnostics

MUDr. Petr Kocna CSc
Ústav klinické biochemie a laboratorní diagnostiky 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha

Breath tests present moderne, non-invasive diagnostic tool in gastroenterology and hepatology. Both the hydrogen breath tests (H2) and tests with stable isotope of carbon (13C) are clinically helpful in the wide range of diagnostic indications. In this review there are discussed prinicples of hydrogen and 13C-breath tests, methods and test procedures, analytical instruments and selected clinical applications. The range of diseases that can be identified include Helicobacter pylori infection, lactose and fructose intolerance, bacterial overgrowth, abnormal small bowel transit, gastric emptying, pancreatic insufficiency, liver dysfunction. Five years experiences with 13C-breath tests used for Helicobacter pylori (13C-urea), exocrine pancreatic function (13C-mixed triglycerides) and small bowell bacterial overgrowth (13C-xylose) are presented. These tests were analysed by infrared analysers Isomax-4000 and HeliFAN plus in the Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University in Prague.

Keywords: Keywords: breath test, hydrogen breath test, 13C-breath test, NDIRS, IRMS, stable isotopes, gastroenterology, hepatology.

Published: June 1, 2006  Show citation

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Kocna P. Breath tests - the modern, non-invasive diagnostics. Interní Med. 2006;8(7):336-341.
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