Helicobacter pylori - IgG Antibody – ES073
🔬 Past Exposure MarkerReport: Next day Evening (Except Sunday)
Sample Type: Blood (Serum)
Test Code: ES073
The Helicobacter pylori IgG Antibody test is a blood test to check for the presence of IgG antibodies against the H. pylori bacterium. IgG antibodies are part of the body's long-term immune memory, and their presence indicates that a person has been exposed to the infection at some point in their life.
✔ Helps in determining if a patient has ever had an H. pylori infection.
✔ A positive result indicates past or chronic exposure.
✔ Cannot be used to confirm if an infection is currently active or if treatment was successful.
✔ A simple, non-invasive blood test.
IgG: The Body's Immune Memory of H. pylori
Helicobacter pylori is a resilient bacterium that colonizes the stomach, leading to chronic inflammation (gastritis) and increasing the risk for peptic ulcers. When the body first encounters H. pylori, it launches an immune response. Part of this response is the creation of long-term memory antibodies, primarily **Immunoglobulin G (IgG)**.
These IgG antibodies can be detected in the blood and serve as a reliable marker that a person's immune system has encountered the H. pylori bacterium. Unlike IgA or IgM antibodies which tend to appear during an active infection and then fade, IgG antibodies can persist in the bloodstream for years, or even a lifetime, long after the infection has been successfully treated and eradicated.
Interpreting a Positive IgG Result
A positive H. pylori IgG test is a common finding, especially in endemic areas. It simply means **"exposure at some point in time."** This could mean:
- You have a current, active infection.
- You had an infection in the past that your body cleared on its own.
- You had an infection in the past that was successfully treated with antibiotics.
Because of this, the IgG test alone cannot be used to diagnose a current infection that requires treatment. A doctor will always interpret a positive IgG result in the context of your current symptoms and may order a more specific "active infection" test (like an IgA antibody test, a Urea Breath Test, or a Stool Antigen test) to confirm the need for treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A positive IgG result indicates that you have been exposed to the H. pylori bacteria at some point in your life. It does not necessarily mean you have a current, active infection that needs treatment.
The IgA test is a marker of an active or recent mucosal immune response, suggesting a current infection. The IgG test is a "memory" antibody that can stay positive for years, indicating past exposure.
No, most likely it will not. IgG antibodies can persist for a very long time, even after a successful cure. Therefore, this test cannot be used to check if the treatment has worked. A Urea Breath Test or Stool Antigen test is used for that purpose.
No, fasting is not required for the H. pylori IgG antibody blood test.