Effective Tuesday, March 1, 2016, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) core laboratory will discontinue offering the following serology tests for Helicobacter pylori:
   HELICOBACTER PYLORI ANTIBODY, IGA [LAB157]
   HELICOBACTER PYRLORI ANTIBODY, IGG [LAB158]

These were previously offered as mailout tests. However, multiple reference laboratories, including large commercial operations such as Mayo Medical Laboratories and Quest Diagnostics, are discontinuing this testing due to the poor performance of these assays and lack of reimbursement from insurance providers.

The current alternative options for non-invasive Helicobacter testing are:
   H. PYLORI ANTIGEN, STOOL [LAB4483]
   H. PYLORI BREATH TEST, (PEDIATRIC) [LAB8127]
   H. PYLORI BREATH TEST (ADULT) [LAB947]

Questions should be directed to Matthew Krasowski, MD, PhD, medical director of the Clinical Chemistry laboratory (384-9380, matthew-krasowski@uiowa.edu).