Breath tests at GI Care for Kids​

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all you had to do for your doctor to discover what’s wrong is to drink something and breathe into a bag? At GI Care for Kids, we can do that!

Why should I have a GI breath test?

Identify the Presence of H. Pylori

If a child or teen has sharp pains in the top part of their stomach or if it is tender in that area, a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) may be the cause. A quick 30-minute breath test can often discover the presence of that particular bacteria, as long as the child hasn’t been on antibiotics or acid blockers for the previous 2 weeks. The test can then be repeated several months later to make sure the bacteria is no longer present after treatment has been completed.

How Is a GI Breath Test Performed?

The breath tests are performed by giving a child a particular fluid to drink and then having him or her blow into a bag that collects their breath. The breath samples are then chemically analyzed to provide a result.

The H. pylori test requires a single sample and only takes a few minutes.

Things to Know

  • Breath tests should not be performed while your child is on antibiotics or probiotics (or for 2 weeks afterward) because the tests can give false results during that time.
  • Acid blockers and acid reducers can produce false results for those having H. pylori testing.
  • Results are usually available immediately after the H. pylori test.