Although your doctor may suspect an ulcer based on what you tell them about your symptoms, you’ll need a test to confirm the diagnosis.
Endoscopy
The most accurate way of confirming a peptic ulcer is by endoscopy. This hospital procedure involves passing a flexible, thin tube (endoscope) through the mouth, down the gullet and into the stomach and duodenum. The views obtained by endoscopy are so good that your doctor will be able to confirm or exclude an ulcer without further tests.
While carrying out an endoscopy, the specialist may take a tissue sample from your stomach or duodenum. The sample can be tested for Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) at the same time that the procedure is carried out.
Diagnosing H pylori infection
If your GP thinks that your symptoms may be due to an H pylori infection, you may need to have several tests:
- A urea breath test - you are given a special drink that contains a chemical that is digested by H pylori. The amount of carbon dioxide on your breath indicates whether or not you have H pylori infection.
- A stool antigen test - a pea-sized stool sample (faeces) is tested for H pylori bacteria.
- A blood test - where a sample of your blood is tested for antibodies to the H pylori bacteria. Antibodies are proteins that help fight infection and are produced naturally in your blood.
If you test positive for H pylori, you will need to have treatment to clear the infection and to allow your peptic ulcer to heal (see the 'treatment' section).
