PYtest is a urea breath test and is a quantitative and non-invasive method for the diagnosis of H. pylori.
The test is conducted with the patient swallowing a urea capsule. If gastric urease from H. pylori is present, the urea is split to form carbon dioxide and ammonia. Ten minutes after the capsule is ingested by the patient, a breath sample is collected in a balloon.
The breath sample is transferred into collection fluid to trap the labelled carbon dioxide. This liquid is later analysed in a liquid scintillation counter to determine the level of infection.