Patient's question:
How do doctors get Helicobacter pylori? Some hospitals check with C13, while others check with C14? Are the results the same? The hospital near my home only offers C13 testing. Is it true that after undergoing C13 or C14 testing, one cannot have children within a year?Doctor's answer:
C13 and C14 tests are commonly used and relatively sensitive methods for detecting Helicobacter pylori today, with no fundamental differences between them. The main distinction lies in the fact that C13 is an improved version of C14, being non-radioactive. As a stable isotope, it poses no harm to the human body and exhibits high sensitivity and specificity, making it more suitable for pregnant women and children. C13 testing provides more accurate results, with samples remaining at room temperature in a dark environment for 24 hours, ensuring that the results are not affected by any interference.