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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffAlthough your doctor is likely to suspect gastritis after talking to you about your medical history and performing a thorough exam, you may also have tests to pinpoint the exact cause. These tests include:
- Blood tests. Your doctor may order a blood test to check for the presence of H. pylori antibodies. A positive test shows that you've come in contact with the bacteria at some time in your life, but it doesn't necessarily indicate a current infection. Blood tests can also check for anemia, which may result from stomach bleeding associated with gastritis.
- Breath test. This simple test can help determine whether you're currently infected with H. pylori bacteria.
- Stool tests. This test checks for H. pylori in a sample of your stool. A positive test suggests current infection. Your doctor may also test for the presence of blood in your stool, a sign of stomach bleeding that can accompany gastritis.
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. This procedure allows your doctor to see abnormalities in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract that may not be visible on X-rays. For the test, your doctor inserts a thin, flexible, lighted tube (endoscope) through your mouth and into your esophagus, stomach and the first part of your small intestine. Your throat is usually numbed before you swallow the endoscope, and you'll receive additional medication to ensure that you're comfortable during the procedure. If any tissue in your upper intestinal tract looks suspicious, your doctor can remove a small sample (biopsy) using instruments inserted through the endoscope. The sample is then sent to a lab for examination by a pathologist. Upper endoscopy takes about 20 to 30 minutes, although you won't be sent home until the medication wears off — usually one to two hours later. Risks of the procedure are rare and include bleeding and perforation of the stomach lining. The most common complication is a slight sore throat from swallowing the endoscope.
- Upper gastrointestinal X-ray. These X-rays of your stomach and small intestine check for signs of gastritis and other digestive problems. They're often taken after you swallow a liquid (barium) that coats the lining of your digestive tract, making it show up more clearly on the X-rays.
References
- Gastritis. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/gastritis. Accessed Feb. 23, 2009.
- Yardley JH, et al. Acute and chronic gastritis due to Helicobacter pylori. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 23, 2009.
- Yardley JH, et al. Metaplastic (chronic) atrophic gastritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 23, 2009.
- Yardley JH, et al. Classification and diagnosis of gastritis and gastropathy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 23, 2009.
- H. Pylori and peptic ulcer. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hpylori. Accessed Feb. 23, 2009.
- Francis DL. Gastritis. In: Hauser SC, et al, eds. Mayo Clinic Gastroenterology and Hepatology Board Review. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Clinic Scientific Press; 2008:67.
- Picco MF. (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 25, 2009.
