Can a general blood test detect H.

Question
Hello doctor, can I ask if the general blood test can test for HP bacteria or do I have to have an endoscopy? Thank you.
Tran Hong Suong (1995)
Answer
When a patient has an HP infection, the body will produce anti-HP antibodies, this type of antibody is present in the blood and can be detected by testing for antibodies in the blood. blood. However, this is not the preferred test to perform because the possibility of false positives is quite high. The reason is because HP bacteria can exist in many other areas and also make the blood test positive, such as the oral cavity, the sinuses, the intestinal tract.. but it does not cause disease at all. The second reason is that although the HP bacteria in the stomach has been treated cleanly, the patient has completely recovered, but the anti-HPV antibodies still remain in the blood for many months to even a few years later, so when A blood test for HP bacteria will give a positive result.
In addition to blood tests for HP bacteria, there are other methods to test for HP detection such as Gastroscopy, HP breath test, stool test.. Depending on other requirements attached to the test find HP such as whether the patient needs to check the damage of the stomach, whether to do antibiotics, ask for a fast or slow test .., so that the doctor can offer an appropriate test method.
Thank you for your question to vimec.com website. Best regards.
BSCK II, MSc. Dr. Phan Thi Minh Huong - Gastroenterologist - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International Hospital