Doctor warns people about bacteria testWARNING: If the person is taking certain medications, it could cause ‘Helicobacter pylori’ test results to come back ‘false negative,’ Shu-Tien Clinic’s Kang Pen-chu saidBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterA doctor yesterday reminded people not to take certain types of drugs before getting a stool antigen test for Helicobacter pylori amid a one-time government-funded testing program for people aged 45 to 74. Wang later underwent a gastroscopy, which confirmed that she was infected with H. pylori. If a chronic infection is left untreated, the risk of developing gastric cancer increases over time, he said. Studies have also suggested that a H. pylori infection is significantly associated with anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, immune thrombocytopenia and metabolic syndrome, he said. Recurrent stomach discomfort is not necessarily caused by stomach ulcer, so instead of buying OTC drugs to relieve the symptoms, people should seek medical attention and undergo tests to clarify the cause, he added.

Source: Taipei Times February 25, 2026 17:16 UTC