Concierge H. pylori testing · London
Private H. pylori breath test in London, a 30-minute breath sample.
A 30-minute non-radioactive breath test — for reflux, gastritis and ulcer work-up, with a proper eradication regimen if positive.
Why patients choose us
- 01
We explain, not just report
A consultant gastroenterologist talks you through the result — and, if positive, the eradication regimen that follows.
- 02
No bundle upselling
A focused breath test — not a five-hundred-pound gut panel if a single 30-minute sample is what you actually need.
- 03
Accredited labs only
UKAS-accredited breath-test laboratories, consultant gastroenterology review, and an endoscopy pathway if red flags appear.
Indicative pricing
What a private H. pylori breath test costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics and laboratories. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A urea breath test in our network: £120–£240, with results the same day.
| Test or bundle | Indicative range | Duration | Results turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urea breath test | £120–£240 | 30 min | Same-day |
| Post-treatment eradication check | £120–£240 | 30 min | Same-day |
| Breath test + gastro review | £280–£550 | 60 min | Same visit |
| H. pylori stool antigen test | £75–£150 | 5 min | 3–5 days |
| H. pylori serology | £75–£150 | 5 min | 3–5 days |
| Test + endoscopy referral bundle | £350–£700 | 90 min | Same-day |
Prices vary by clinic, whether a consultant review is bundled in, and how quickly you need the report. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
A positive result is only useful if it leads to eradication.
Plenty of clinics will sell you a breath test. Preparing you properly, prescribing the right eradication regimen, and confirming the bug has actually gone — that is the part that matters. That is what we do.
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Off your PPI safely?
You need to stop PPIs for two weeks before the test. We tell you exactly what to swap to so symptoms do not run wild in the meantime.
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Worried about a positive?
A confirmed positive gets a guideline-based triple-therapy regimen and a retest four weeks after antibiotics — not a shrug.
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Retesting after treatment?
The post-treatment retest is the whole point. Timed correctly, it tells you the bug has gone. Timed wrong, it lies.
The journey
From enquiry to results — what happens, in order.
One consultant gastroenterologist from first message to explained results — usually within a day or two of preparation.
Phase 1 · Before your test
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · The 30-minute test
In clinic, on the day
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Symptoms, any prior treatments, and what you want to understand.
- 02
Before
We recommend the right test
Within one working day: breath test, stool antigen, serology or a bundled review — and what each will cost.
- 03
Before
Preparation instructions sent
Stop PPIs 2 weeks before, antibiotics 4 weeks before, bismuth 2 weeks before, and fast 6 hours before the sample.
- 04
On the day
The 30-minute breath test
A baseline breath sample, then a carbon-13 urea drink, then a second breath sample thirty minutes later.
- 05
On the day
Off to the lab
Sealed samples go straight to a UKAS-accredited laboratory for mass-spectrometry analysis on the same day.
- 06
After
Results reviewed
Results are checked and interpreted by a consultant gastroenterologist, usually within the same working day.
- 07
After
We explain them
If positive, we arrange a proper triple-therapy eradication regimen and a post-treatment retest at least four weeks after antibiotics.
Typical end-to-end: 1–2 days after preparation. Urgent cases: same day.
What it shows
When an H. pylori breath test is the right call.
H. pylori sits behind a surprising amount of upper-GI trouble. These are the reasons people come to us most.
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New reflux or dyspepsia
A first-line, non-invasive test when reflux or indigestion is new and unexplained.
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Uninvestigated indigestion
Test-and-treat for H. pylori is the NICE-recommended first step in uninvestigated dyspepsia.
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Confirmed peptic ulcer
H. pylori causes most gastric and duodenal ulcers — eradication is the definitive treatment.
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Iron-deficiency anaemia work-up
H. pylori is a recognised, treatable cause of unexplained iron-deficiency anaemia.
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Family history of gastric cancer
Screening and eradication reduces the lifetime risk of gastric cancer in first-degree relatives.
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Post-treatment eradication check
The gold-standard test to confirm the bacterium is gone, at least four weeks after antibiotics.
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MALT lymphoma follow-up
Eradication is the primary treatment for H. pylori-associated gastric MALT lymphoma.
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Red flag symptoms
Weight loss, black stools or difficulty swallowing? These need urgent endoscopy — we will say so.
Available tests
The H. pylori tests we arrange most.
What each option is actually for.
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Urea breath test
The gold-standard non-invasive test — a carbon-13 urea drink, before-and-after breath samples, 30 minutes.
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Post-treatment eradication check
The same breath test repeated at least four weeks after antibiotics, to confirm the bacterium has gone.
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+ Gastro review
Breath test bundled with a consultant gastroenterologist review, same visit, for symptoms as well as bug.
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Stool antigen test
A laboratory stool sample for H. pylori antigen — a reliable alternative when a breath test is impractical.
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Serology (blood)
A blood antibody test — useful for prior exposure, but cannot distinguish current from past infection.
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+ Endoscopy referral
Straight-to-endoscopy pathway when red flags or a history of ulcer disease need direct visualisation and biopsy.
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Bundle for family screen
Streamlined testing for first-degree relatives when gastric cancer runs in the family.
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Paediatric pathway (specialist)
Children referred to a paediatric gastroenterologist — non-radioactive breath testing is safe from age 3.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of clinics, we picked them.
Consultant gastroenterologists, UKAS-accredited breath-test laboratories and a fast-track endoscopy pathway if anything the test throws up needs a closer look.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
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Consultant gastroenterologists with a specialist interest in H. pylori and upper GI disease
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UKAS-accredited breath-test laboratories using carbon-13 (non-radioactive) urea substrate
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Consultant prescribing of guideline-based triple-therapy eradication regimens
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A fast-track endoscopy pathway when red flags or treatment failure require direct visualisation
Preparation and practicalities
Simple to do — if you follow a few rules.
The breath test is non-invasive and safe, but preparation is everything — PPIs, antibiotics and timing can all change the result. We tell you exactly what to do.
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Stop PPIs two weeks before
Proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, lansoprazole, esomeprazole) suppress the bacterium and cause false negatives — stop two weeks before.
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Stop antibiotics four weeks before
Any recent antibiotic course can suppress H. pylori enough to miss it — allow four full weeks after the last dose.
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Stop bismuth two weeks before
Bismuth-containing preparations (Pepto-Bismol) also suppress H. pylori — stop two weeks before the test.
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Fast six hours before
No food or drink for six hours before the appointment. Small sips of water are fine up to an hour before.
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Non-radioactive substrate
Carbon-13 urea is stable and non-radioactive — the standard choice for children and pregnancy alike.
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Post-treatment retest timing
A retest to confirm eradication must be done at least four weeks after finishing antibiotics — sooner is unreliable.
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A single positive deserves treatment
H. pylori is a Group 1 carcinogen. A confirmed positive result should be treated — not watched.
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Reinfection is possible
Reinfection is uncommon in the UK but can happen — a symptom recurrence years later is worth retesting.
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Share prior treatments
Always tell us about previous eradication attempts and antibiotic exposure — resistance patterns guide the next regimen.
Reading your report
A breath-test report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whichever laboratory runs the samples, the report follows the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
Read the impression first — the rest is the working.
If you would like us to talk you through the report before any follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Your details, indication and medications
Your details, the clinical question, and every medication that could influence the result — PPIs, antibiotics, bismuth.
- 02 Technique
Substrate and timing
Which carbon-13 urea substrate was used, the baseline and post-drink sampling times, and the laboratory that ran the analysis.
- 03 Findings
Delta-over-baseline value
The delta-over-baseline (DOB) figure with the laboratory cut-off, so a positive or negative call is transparent rather than hidden.
- 04 Impression
The conclusion: read this first
Positive or negative — and, if this was a post-treatment retest, whether eradication has been confirmed. Read this first.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover varies by policy. Where testing is medically indicated we confirm cover with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about H. pylori breath testing.
Quick answers on PPI withdrawal, antibiotics, pregnancy, children, cost, referrals and when to see a GP urgently.
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What does the H. pylori breath test actually measure?
You drink a small amount of carbon-13 labelled urea. If H. pylori is in the stomach it splits the urea into carbon-13 labelled carbon dioxide, which you then breathe out. Comparing your breath before and thirty minutes after the drink tells us whether the bacterium is present.
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Why do I have to stop my PPI two weeks before?
Proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, lansoprazole, esomeprazole and similar) suppress H. pylori enough to give a false negative result. You need to be off them for a full two weeks before the test. We tell you exactly what to do and give you safe alternatives for symptom control in the meantime.
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What about antibiotics?
Any antibiotic course in the previous four weeks can suppress the bacterium and cause a false negative. Allow four full weeks after your last dose before the breath test. Bismuth (Pepto-Bismol) is the same — stop two weeks before.
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Is the breath test safe in pregnancy?
Yes. The standard test uses carbon-13, which is a stable, non-radioactive isotope. It is safe in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
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Can children have the breath test?
Yes — carbon-13 breath testing is safe from around age three and is the preferred non-invasive test for children. Under-16s are seen by a paediatric gastroenterologist rather than an adult one.
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How much does a private H. pylori breath test cost in London?
A urea breath test in our network costs £120–£240. A test bundled with a consultant gastroenterologist review is £280–£550. We come back with a firm quote across two or three options within one working day.
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Do I need a referral?
No. The H. pylori breath test accepts self-referral. Where a consultant review is needed — for treatment, for symptom work-up, or after a positive result — we arrange a fast-track private gastroenterologist.
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How quickly will I get my results?
Breath samples are analysed the same working day. A written report with the interpretation, and a treatment plan if positive, is usually with you within twenty-four hours.
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When should I have an endoscopy instead of a breath test?
Endoscopy is the right first step when there are red flag symptoms — unexplained weight loss, black or bloody stools, difficulty swallowing, persistent vomiting, or a strong family history of gastric cancer. Endoscopy also allows biopsy, culture and resistance testing, which matter after a failed eradication.
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When should I see a GP urgently instead?
Weight loss, black stools, difficulty swallowing, persistent vomiting or a new upper-abdominal mass need urgent GP or endoscopy review — not a breath test. We will tell you if that is the right route rather than take your money.
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