H. pylori test types and prices in Bangkok
H. pylori testing options available at Bangkok hospitals and clinics (2026):
- ▸Urea Breath Test (UBT / 13C-UBT): ฿800–฿1,800 — gold standard non-invasive test; swallow a carbon-13 labelled urea capsule, breathe into bags, H. pylori urease metabolises it if present; sensitivity/specificity > 95%; requires no antibiotic use for 4 weeks and no PPI for 2 weeks before
- ▸H. pylori Stool Antigen Test (SAT / ELISA-based): ฿600–฿1,200 — accurate non-invasive alternative; same pre-test restrictions as UBT; preferred when breath test unavailable
- ▸H. pylori Serology (blood antibody IgG): ฿400–฿800 — cheapest but least accurate for current infection; stays positive for years after eradication so cannot confirm cure; not recommended as primary diagnostic
- ▸Rapid Urease Test (CLO test): ฿500–฿1,500 as add-on to gastroscopy — biopsy taken during endoscopy, tested for urease activity; highly accurate for diagnosis during procedure
- ▸Histopathology biopsy (pathology lab from gastroscopy): ฿1,000–฿3,000 — sends gastric tissue to pathologist; most comprehensive but requires gastroscopy; identifies active gastritis/dysplasia simultaneously
- ▸H. pylori antigen from stool PCR (molecular): ฿1,500–฿3,000 — can distinguish strain and antibiotic resistance; useful if prior eradication failed
- ▸Most accessible option for quick testing without gastroscopy: Urea Breath Test or Stool Antigen — both walk-in at most Bangkok hospitals
H. pylori eradication treatment in Bangkok
H. pylori treatment options and costs at Bangkok private hospitals:
- ▸Standard triple therapy (7–14 days): Amoxicillin + Clarithromycin + PPI (e.g., Omeprazole or Pantoprazole): ฿1,200–฿2,500 for full course; success rate ~75–85% in areas without clarithromycin resistance
- ▸Bismuth quadruple therapy (first-line where clarithromycin resistance is high): Bismuth + Tetracycline + Metronidazole + PPI (10–14 days): ฿2,000–฿4,000; preferred by many Bangkok gastroenterologists
- ▸Sequential therapy (5+5 days) or concomitant therapy: alternatives used at some Bangkok hospitals; consult a gastroenterologist
- ▸Test of cure: must be done ≥ 4 weeks after completing antibiotic course AND ≥ 2 weeks after stopping PPI — use UBT or stool antigen (NOT serology, which stays positive)
- ▸Full package (breath test + triple therapy + test of cure): approximately ฿4,000–฿7,000 total out of pocket at Bangkok private hospitals
- ▸Note: Bangkok (Thailand) has growing clarithromycin resistance (~25–35%), so bismuth quadruple therapy is increasingly first-line; ask your Bangkok gastroenterologist which regimen they recommend
Who should get tested for H. pylori in Bangkok
H. pylori screening and testing recommendations for Bangkok check-up visitors:
- ▸Korean visitors: South Korea has one of the highest H. pylori rates in East Asia (50–60%). Korean national health screening (국가건강검진) has included H. pylori testing since 2021 for stomach cancer prevention — Vejthani, Samitivej, and Bumrungrad all offer H. pylori testing as part of Korean health screening packages
- ▸Japanese visitors: Japan has very high H. pylori rates (30–50%+ depending on age cohort) and government-endorsed eradication programmes for gastric cancer prevention (胃がんリスク層別化検診); most Tokyo Ningen Dock packages include H. pylori; Bangkok hospitals can replicate this
- ▸Chinese visitors: China has 50–60% H. pylori prevalence; growing awareness; commonly requested alongside gastroscopy
- ▸Symptomatic patients: upper abdominal discomfort, bloating, early satiety, nausea — consider H. pylori testing as first step before gastroscopy
- ▸Family history of gastric cancer: H. pylori + gastric cancer family history = significantly elevated risk; test and treat
- ▸Long-term Bangkok/Thailand residents: consider baseline H. pylori test if you've never been tested — Southeast Asian prevalence is ~40–60%
- ▸Note: Bangkok hospitals can arrange H. pylori UBT or stool antigen test on the same morning as your annual health check-up