Home kit
H. pylori Stool Test
The stool antigen test for Helicobacter pylori, a stomach bacterium behind many stomach ulcers and some cases of long-running indigestion.
- Doctor-reviewed results
- Laboratory analysis
- 2 to 3 working days from lab receipt
- No fasting required
What’s included
1 marker measured
Helicobacter pylori antigen (stool)
A stool test for Helicobacter pylori infection, used when investigating indigestion (dyspepsia). It is less likely than an antibody blood test to give a positive result from a past infection. Taking a proton pump inhibitor in the previous 2 weeks, or antibiotics in the previous 4 weeks, can cause a false negative result.
Overview
Helicobacter pylori is behind many stomach ulcers and some cases of long-running indigestion, and it is treatable once found. The stool antigen test looks for the bacterium itself rather than for antibodies, which is why UK guidance prefers it (or a breath test): an antibody test cannot tell a current infection from one that has cleared. It is one of the tests GPs use when indigestion keeps coming back and there are no warning signs.
H. pylori lives in the stomach lining, and in some people it causes inflammation, ulcers and persistent indigestion. The stool antigen test looks for the bacterium itself, and UK guidance recommends it (or a breath test) rather than an antibody blood test, which cannot tell a current infection from one that has cleared. Acid-reducing tablets and recent antibiotics can make the test read negative when the bacterium is still there, so the timing of the sample matters and the report explains it.
Who this is for and who it isn’t
Who it’s for
- Adults aged 18 and over
- Anyone whose indigestion returns as soon as they stop antacids
- People whose clinician has suggested a stool test after treatment
Who it isn’t for
- This will not explain every kind of indigestion, and it is not a test of the stomach lining itself, which needs a camera test. Timing is the thing most likely to trip it up: acid-reducing tablets such as omeprazole and lansoprazole, and recent antibiotics, can both make the test read negative while the bacterium is still there. Do not stop a prescribed medicine to take a test.
- Difficulty swallowing, vomiting blood, black tarry stools or unexplained weight loss need urgent medical attention rather than a home test. If you feel full after very small amounts of food, are losing weight without trying, or your pain is getting worse, ask for an urgent GP appointment.
- Anyone with a new, severe or worsening symptom: contact your GP or call NHS 111. A test you buy today is not a substitute for being examined.
Common reasons people choose this test
- Burning or gnawing pain in the upper stomach that keeps returning
- Indigestion that comes back whenever you stop antacids
- Feeling full quickly or bloated after small meals
- A family history of stomach ulcers
- A clinician has suggested a stool test to check whether treatment worked
These are reasons people choose to test, not signs that something is wrong. A result is one part of a picture your doctor puts together with your history and an examination.
What your result looks like
Every result is shown with the unit and the reference range exactly as the laboratory reported it, with the doctor’s note underneath.
- Helicobacter pylori antigen (stool)Detected
- Result
- Detected
- Range
- Not detected
| Marker | Result | Units | Range | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helicobacter pylori antigen (stool) | Detected | n/a | Not detected | Detected |
Doctor’s note (example)
Helicobacter pylori antigen has been found, so the bacterium is present now. It responds to a course of treatment that your GP would usually discuss, followed by a repeat test at least four weeks later to check it has gone.
Values above are examples. Your report shows your own results with the laboratory’s units and reference range for your age and sex, reviewed, signed and released by a GMC-registered doctor.
How it works
- Your kit arrivesPosted to your door, with instructions and what you need to send your sample back.
- You take your sampleA stool sample you collect at home, using the kit we post you
- The laboratory analyses itYour sample is processed for the measurements included in this test. Lab processing typically takes 2 to 3 working days from receipt of your sample.
- A doctor reviews and releases itA GMC-registered doctor reads every result and signs the report before it reaches you.
- Sample
- Home stool kit
- Preparation
- No fasting required
- Who it's for
- Any sex · ages 18+
How to prepare
What we can and can’t tell you
The reference range beside each result is the laboratory’s own. A result in range is not a clean bill of health and a result outside it is not a diagnosis. Most ranges cover about 95% of healthy people, so about 1 in 20 healthy people fall just outside any one range. No test result replaces an examination or your own doctor’s judgement, and none of these panels is a cancer screening programme.
Read the full note
This test is reported as detected or not detected, not against a normal range. Acid-reducing tablets and recent antibiotics can make it read not detected while the bacterium is still there, so the timing of the sample matters. A detected result shows the bacterium is present; it does not show whether it is causing your symptoms or whether there is an ulcer, which needs a camera test.
Difficulty swallowing or unexplained weight loss need an urgent GP appointment or a call to NHS 111, and vomiting blood or black tarry stools need a 999 call or A&E, rather than waiting for a result.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I be off acid-reducing tablets before testing?
UK guidance asks for two weeks off a proton pump inhibitor and four weeks after any antibiotics for the test to be reliable. Whether that is safe and sensible for you is a decision for the clinician who looks after your treatment, not something to do on your own.
How does a stool test compare with a breath test?
Both look for a current infection, and UK guidance recommends either one. The breath test is generally regarded as the more accurate of the two but has to be arranged by a clinician. The stool test can be done entirely at home.
Can I use it to check that treatment worked?
It can be, although UK guidance does not recommend retesting everyone after treatment, and prefers the breath test when a retest is needed. If your GP or specialist wants a retest, wait at least four weeks after finishing the antibiotics, and ideally eight, because testing too soon can make an infection that is still there read as not detected.
What happens if it is positive?
The reviewing doctor explains what the result means and what usually happens next, which is a conversation with your own GP about a course of treatment. We do not provide the treatment ourselves.
How long do results take?
The laboratory typically takes 2 to 3 working days from receiving your sample. This does not include kit delivery, sample collection or return postage. A doctor reviews your results before they are released.
Can I choose a home kit or a clinic?
This test uses a stool sample you collect at home, not a blood sample. The kit arrives by post with step-by-step instructions and what you need to send it back.
Is a doctor involved?
Yes. Every result is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor who signs it off and explains what it means and what to do next.
Is it confidential?
Your results are available through your secure patient portal. Our privacy policy explains how your information is handled and when it may be shared to provide your care.
What happens to my sample and results?
Your sample is tested at a UKAS-accredited laboratory (ISO 15189). A GMC-registered doctor then reads every result and signs the report before it is released to your secure portal, so nothing reaches you unreviewed. The report says whether H. pylori antigen was detected or not detected, with the doctor's note on what that means for you and what usually happens next, which is most often a conversation with your GP about treatment if it was detected. If a result needs urgent attention, the reviewing doctor is alerted straight away and we contact you by phone the same working day rather than leaving it in the portal for you to find.
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