CLO Test For H Pylori

Submitted by Medical Health Test Team on October 18, 2012

H pylori is the short form for Helicobacter Pylori. This is a type of bacteria that inhabits the stomach and is responsible for some cases of stomach ulcers and inflammation in the stomach lining. Many patients affected by an infestation of H pylori have no obvious symptoms and may not know that they are infected at all. This is similar to many other bacterial infections that may affect the stomach or the intestinal system.

One of the tests used to diagnose an H pylori infestation is the CLO test. CLO stands for Camplyobacter-like organism. The CLO test for H pylori is a common test used to diagnose this condition. A person suffering from an H pylori infection is likely to have symptoms similar to digestion problems with no other logical explanation for the same. Such patients regularly suffer from indigestion and stomach pain. They also tend to suffer from nausea, gas and a sensation of burning when spicy food is consumed.

There are some other tests that may be used to diagnose an infection with the H pylori bacteria. These include a breath test which checks the breath of an individual for particular markers associated with this form of bacterial infection. The patient is made to consume a specific type of food following which the breath is tested.

The CLO test on the other hand is an invasive test that uses a biopsy sample from the stomach lining for confirmation of the infection. The endoscope used to collect the biopsy sample would be guided by the doctor till it reaches a spot where there is a visible inflammation. This spot will then be biopsied and the sample brought out. The sample is then placed on a special slide that also contains urea. The urea is supposed to react with the bacteria, if it is present in the sample. This will cause the color of the sample tissue to change which is a positive test result for an H pylori infection.

H pylori could be easily dealt with using a course antibiotic medication as prescribed by a doctor. Most antibiotics will quickly reduce the symptoms and gradually eliminate them over a period of a few days of continuous therapy. Patients will be required to consume medication to replenish the supply of good bacteria in the stomach because the bacterial medication tends to kill even the good bacteria that help during the process of digestion.

More articles from the Medical Tests Category