A test that may be used to detect a specific substance in the breath to help explain metabolic changes. Breath tests are used, for example, to detect evidence of bacterial overgrowth in the intestines, to investigate the causes of malabsorption, to detect Helicobacter pylori in the stomach, and to estimate alcohol in the tissues, due to micro-organisms in the patient.
A diagnostic procedure utilized to assess the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection within the digestive tract, which is commonly associated with peptic ulcers, involves a specific methodology. This test entails the ingestion of a substance that can be metabolized by the bacterium. As the breakdown process takes place, a chemical byproduct is generated and subsequently released into the bloodstream. Ultimately, this chemical is exhaled and can be detected by a specialized machine, thereby confirming the presence of the bacterial infection.