RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Safety of <sup>14</sup>C-UBT for diagnosis of <em>Helicobacter pylori</em> infection in pregnancy
JF Canadian Family Physician
JO Can Fam Physician
FD The College of Family Physicians of Canada
SP 479
OP 480
VO 55
IS 5
A1 Yedidia Bentur
A1 Doreen Matsui
A1 Gideon Koren
YR 2009
UL http://www.cfp.ca/content/55/5/479.abstract
AB QUESTION A 29-year-old woman had a carbon 14 urea breath test for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. At time of consultation, it had been 6 weeks since her last menstrual period. Four weeks after her last menstrual period, the results of a urine pregnancy test were negative. On that day, she received an ionizing radiation dose of 74 KBq (2 μCi) carbon 14 urea, followed by the breath test 30 minutes thereafter. Four days later, when the urine pregnancy test results turned positive, she was concerned about the possible effect of her exposure to ionizing radiation on the developing fetus. ANSWER The amount of radiation used in these tests is extremely low—much lower than the amount a pregnant woman is absorbing through natural sources.