Question

Urea breath test is used for diagnosis of:

• A. H.pylori
• B. Campylobacter jejuni
• C. E. coli
• D. Lactobacillus

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The urea breath test is a diagnostic procedure primarily used to detect and diagnose infections caused by Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori). This bacteria can inhabit the stomach lining, and the test works by detecting the presence of carbon dioxide in the breath, which is a byproduct of urea metabolization by H.pylori.

To perform the test, a patient ingests a urea solution labeled with an isotope, either carbon-13 or carbon-14. If H.pylori is present, it metabolizes the urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is absorbed into the bloodstream, transported to the lungs, and exhaled. The breath sample is then analyzed for the presence of the labeled carbon dioxide, which indicates H.pylori infection.

This method is non-invasive and highly specific for H.pylori. Other bacteria, like Campylobacter jejuni, E. coli, and Lactobacillus, do not have the ability to metabolize urea in the same way and thus are not detected using this test.

Correct Option: H.pylori