Pytest

Pytest is an orally given radiopharmaceutical agent that helps to determine if you have stomach ulcer-causing bacteria, Helicobacter pylori, in your stomach.

Diagnosis is made by measuring the exhaled radioactive carbon dioxide, which is produced from the breakdown of the orally given urea C 14 by the bacteria, if any.

Using this radioactive agent is generally safe, owing to the limited radiation generated by it. Only a doctor trained in nuclear medicine can administer this agent. It is available as a Capsule.

Before using Pytest, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it.

Take care of the following factors before taking a diagnostic test:

Allergies: Inform your doctor if are allergic to this medicine, any other medicines or foods, dyes, or preservatives.

Pediatric: Due to the limited dose of radiation produced by 14C Urea, using this agent in children is generally safe. However, consult your doctor before the use.

Pregnancy: It falls under pregnancy category C. Therefore, uses this agent in pregnancy only when absolutely needed.

Breastfeeding: Use this medicine in a nursing mother only after assessing risks and benefits of the use.

Drug Interactions: Taking two medicines together can be harmful due to possible interactions. In other cases, even if there is a possible interaction between two medicines your doctor may advise you to take them together after adjusting the dose or issuing precautions.

Inform your doctor if you are taking, or have been taking:

• Antibiotics
• Proton Pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, pantoprazole
• Bismuth-containing medicines
• Sucralfate

Other Interactions: Taking your medicine together with certain foods or items such as alcohol or tobacco may cause undesirable interactions. Talk to your doctor to know if using this medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco is safe.

Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions if any:

• Surgery to remove the stomach: Absence of stomach acid may affect the results of this test

To use Pytest properly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor.

Here are some points to consider:

Do not take:

• Any solid food for 6 hours before the test.
• Antibiotics and bismuth for 30 days and acid-suppressing medicines, such as proton pump inhibitors for 14 days prior to the test.

Do not crush, break, or chew the capsule. Swallow it whole.

Dosing: For best results, follow your doctor to know what amount of medicine you should take in a single dose.

The doses of a medicine can differ according to the conditions for which it is being prescribed. Remember your doses can differ. Consult your doctor if you have anything to ask.

In using Pytest, you must be careful and take some precautions as advised by your doctor.

You may have a false positive test if you suffer from a condition in which there is the absence of stomach acid, achlorhydria.

In very rare cases, a false positive test can result due to bacteria than H. pylori (i.e. Helicobacter heilmanni).

In general, no side effects have been observed in clinical trials taking Pytest. However, consult your doctor if you have any query or develop any abnormal or uncommon effects.