Re: Urea Breath Test

[Richard Smart <R.Smart@unsw.edu.au>]

Hi Eric,

At 09:41 AM 4.11.96 -0600, you wrote:
>I am looking for information concerning Urea Breath Tests used for the
>detection of H.pylori.  Specifically, I am interested in the Radiation
>Safety aspects of the test as suggested by the RSO of the using
>facility.
>

This technique uses 400 kBq (10 microCi) of C-14 per patient. The dosimetry,
as reported in the original description of the method (Marshall & Surveyor,
J Nucl Med, 1988; 29:11-16) in a patient who is positive for Helicobacter
pylori was 44 micro Gy to body fat, 180 microGy to bone, 6 microGy to lung
and 3.6 microGy to gonads.  In HP negative patients the bladder receives the
highest dose, approx 70 microGy.

Regards

Richard Smart PhD
Department of Nuclear Medicine
St. George Hospital
Kogarah, NSW 2217
Australia
Tel:61 2 9350 3112
Fax:61 2 9350 3991
Email:R.Smart@unsw.edu.au