UBT is the acronym for 13C Urea Breath Test.
CUBT is a simple non-invasive test to detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori in your stomach. The most common use for the CUBT is to assess the efficacy of anti Helicobacter pylori treatment without having to undergo upper endoscopy.
The test is based on the comparison 13C levels in the patient's breath before and after the ingestion of 100mg of urea labelled with a precise dose of 13C.
13C is a natural, non-toxic, non radioactive substance that exists in everyday food. Urea is a substance naturally occurring in our body.

• Preparation
  CUBT does not demand complicated preparations. Your stomach must however be empty so please don’t eat anything after breakfast or for six hours prior to the test. You can have your regular medications at breakfast time.
• What are the limitations?
  There are however some limitations to the CUBT that is important to acknowledge:
  

  • All solids must be emptied from the gastrointestinal tract by following a clear liquid diet for 2 days before colonoscopy.
  • CUBT can only be performed two months after the anti Helicobacter treatment. Tests performed earlier can be falsely negative.
  • CUBT can also be falsely negative if you have taken any antibiotic during a month prior to the test.
  • CUBT can also be falsely negative if you take any medications with omeprazol, esomeprazol, pantoprazol, lanzoprazol, rabeprazol or bismuth two weeks prior to the test. There are many medications containing these compounds currently on sale in Portugal please check with your doctor.
• What will happen?
  A sample of your breath will be taken, you will drink the 13C labelled urea solution (a small amount of an odourless and tasteless liquid). Twenty minutes later a new sample of your breath will be collected.
• Afterwards
  You may eat immediately after the test. There is no restriction to your activities. The report will be usually available in less than two weeks.