Does the C14 breath test have radiation?

The C14 breath test has no radiation hazards, and the dose of carbon-14 labeled urea used during the examination is extremely low and has a short half-life. The probability of causing radiation damage to the human body can be ignored. This experiment is mainly used to detect helicobacter pylori infection, and its safety has been certified by international medical regulatory agencies. The principle of the C14 breath test is to have the test subject orally take urea capsules containing trace amounts of carbon-14 labeling. If Helicobacter pylori is present in the stomach, the bacteria will decompose urea to produce carbon-14 labeled carbon dioxide. The infection status can be determined by detecting the carbon-14 content in the exhaled gas. The natural half-life of carbon-14 is about 5730 years, but the activity of carbon-14 in the urea capsules used in the experiment is only about 1 microcurie, which is equivalent to the dose of natural background radiation exposure for 1-2 days. This trace radioactive substance will be excreted through urine for over 90% within 24 hours, and its radiation level is much lower than the cosmic ray radiation received while flying. Numerous clinical studies both domestically and internationally have confirmed that pregnant women and children can safely undergo this examination when necessary. Although there are theoretically a very small number of individuals with special physical conditions who are highly sensitive to radioactive substances, there have been no reported cases of radiation damage caused by C14 breath tests in medical literature. The carbon-14 urea capsules used for inspection are disposable consumables, and their production, transportation, and storage must comply with the national regulations for radioactive drug management. Medical institutions also regularly test equipment for radiation leaks. For subjects who still have concerns, alternative detection methods without radioactive carbon-13 labeling can be chosen, but carbon-13 reagents have higher costs and slightly lower detection sensitivity. Before conducting the C14 breath test, it is recommended to fast for at least 4 hours and drink plenty of water to promote metabolism after the test. If antibiotics, bismuth agents, or proton pump inhibitors have been used recently, they should be stopped for 4 weeks before retesting to avoid false negative results. Daily prevention of Helicobacter pylori infection requires attention to tableware disinfection, avoiding sharing utensils and chewing and feeding. Family members of infected individuals should be screened simultaneously. After diagnosis, standardized treatment can use quadruple therapy containing amoxicillin capsules, clarithromycin tablets, colloidal bismuth pectin capsules, and other drugs. The specific medication plan needs to be formulated by a gastroenterologist based on the results of drug resistance testing.