---
title: H. pylori Stool Antigen Test Test
type: test
id: h-pylori-stool
url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/h-pylori-stool-antigen"
price_usd: 149.99
lab_fee_usd: 6
all_in_usd: 155.99
cpt: 87338
category: Digestive Health
sample: Stool sample
fasting_required: false
results_in: "3–5 business days"
labs:
  - Quest
orderable: true
reviewed_at: 2026-09-14
order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=h-pylori-stool-antigen&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown"
---

# H. pylori Stool Antigen Test Test

> H. pylori Stool Antigen Test measures H. pylori Antigen (EIA, Stool) from a stool sample. At TestWell it costs $149.99 plus a $6 lab fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 3–5 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Price | $149.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($155.99 all-in for this test alone) |
| CPT code | 87338 |
| Sample | Stool sample |
| Fasting | Not required |
| Results | 3–5 business days |
| Labs | Quest Diagnostics |
| Biomarkers measured | 1 |
| Physician authorization | Included — no doctor's visit, referral or insurance needed |
| Payment | Card, HSA or FSA; cash-pay only (no insurance billing) |

## What does the H. pylori Stool Antigen Test test tell you?

Detects active H. pylori infection via stool sample — no breath test required.

This stool antigen test detects Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), the bacterium responsible for most stomach ulcers and chronic gastritis. Unlike the breath test, this version uses an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) on a stool sample, making it a convenient alternative when a breath test is not feasible. It is highly accurate for both initial diagnosis and confirming successful eradication after antibiotic treatment. H. pylori infects roughly half the world's population, though many carriers are asymptomatic. Testing is recommended for patients with persistent stomach pain, bloating, nausea, or a history of ulcers.

**Clinical use:** Detects active Helicobacter pylori infection by identifying H. pylori antigen in a stool sample — a leading cause of peptic ulcers and chronic gastritis. Also used to confirm the infection has cleared after treatment.

## Who should order it?

People with persistent indigestion, stomach pain, bloating, or known/suspected peptic ulcers or gastritis; and anyone confirming that H. pylori has been eradicated after a course of treatment.

## Biomarkers measured

- H. pylori Antigen (EIA, Stool)

## Price by lab

| Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Quest Diagnostics | $149.99 | $155.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) |

Rhode Island is not served. Prices are identical online and in the lab; no draw fee or physician fee is added.

## How much does a H. pylori Stool Antigen Test test cost?

A H. pylori Stool Antigen Test test costs $149.99 at TestWell — $155.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $500.00 self-pay for the same test, and often more. With insurance, what you pay depends on your deductible and your plan's negotiated rate; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and is HSA/FSA-eligible.

| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $149.99 | $155.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $500.00 | $500.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |

Lab test codes: Quest test code 34838.

## How do you prepare?

No fasting required. Discontinue proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and antibiotics at least 2 weeks before testing for accurate results — consult your provider before stopping any medications.

## Related conditions

- Helicobacter pylori infection (B96.81)
- Peptic ulcer disease (K27.9)
- Gastritis (K29.70)

## Is the H. pylori Stool Antigen Test worth it?

> Worth it when the question is 'do I have an active H. pylori infection right now?' — persistent indigestion, gnawing stomach pain, or a known ulcer — and when confirming the infection actually cleared after treatment. The stool antigen test detects active infection, which blood antibody tests cannot do.

### Worth it if you…

- Persistent indigestion, bloating, or burning upper-stomach pain that keeps coming back
- A history of peptic ulcers or gastritis where H. pylori was never formally ruled out
- Confirming eradication 4+ weeks after finishing H. pylori treatment - the test most guidelines recommend for exactly this
- Anyone quoted $279+ by a GI clinic or another online lab: it is the same CLIA-lab stool antigen assay (CPT 87338) at $149.99 self-pay

### You can probably wait if you…

- You have alarm symptoms - black or bloody stools, unintentional weight loss, trouble swallowing, or severe pain. See a provider promptly; that needs evaluation, not just a stool test
- You are still taking a PPI (omeprazole, pantoprazole) or finished antibiotics less than 4 weeks ago - both suppress the bacteria and cause false negatives. Time the test after the washout window
- You only want to know about past exposure - a blood antibody test shows that, but it cannot tell you whether the infection is active today

### At home or in the lab?

At-home collection is not recommended for this test. This is a stool test, not a blood draw, so mobile phlebotomy does not apply. You collect a small sample with the provided kit and return it to a Quest location. The analysis is the same stool antigen immunoassay a GI clinic would order - $149.99 self-pay on TestWell versus roughly $500 hospital-billed.

### How do you read the results?

| Result | Typical adult range | What an out-of-range value can mean |
| --- | --- | --- |
| H. pylori stool antigen | Negative = no active infection detected | A negative result means no H. pylori antigen was found - either you were never infected or a treated infection has cleared (assuming you respected the PPI/antibiotic washout). A positive result means an active infection; treatment is a provider conversation, typically a short course of combination therapy, followed by a repeat stool antigen at least 4 weeks after finishing to confirm eradication. |

_This section medically reviewed; last reviewed 2026-07-28._

## Common questions about the H. pylori Stool Antigen Test test

### What does the H. pylori stool antigen test detect?

It detects H. pylori antigen in a stool sample, indicating an active infection. H. pylori is a bacterium that colonizes the stomach lining and is a leading cause of peptic ulcers, chronic gastritis, and — in long-standing cases — increased stomach cancer risk.

### Stool antigen vs. breath vs. blood test for H. pylori — what's the difference?

The stool antigen and urea breath tests both detect active infection and are recommended for diagnosis and for confirming eradication after treatment. A blood (antibody) test only shows past exposure and can stay positive after the infection clears, so it can't confirm a cure. The stool antigen test is accurate and non-invasive.

### How should I prepare for the test?

For accurate results, stop proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) for about 2 weeks, and antibiotics or bismuth for about 4 weeks, before testing — these can suppress the bacteria and cause a false negative. Confirm timing with your provider, especially if you've recently been treated.

### What is the CPT code for the H. pylori stool antigen test?

The H. pylori stool antigen test is billed under CPT 87338. It's a non-invasive stool test, so no blood draw is required.

### Can I use this to confirm my H. pylori was treated successfully?

Yes. The stool antigen test is one of the recommended ways to confirm eradication. Wait at least 4 weeks after finishing antibiotics (and ~2 weeks off PPIs) before retesting, so the result reflects whether the infection truly cleared.

### How much does an H. pylori test cost without insurance?

On TestWell, the H. pylori stool antigen test is $149.99 self-pay — versus roughly $500 when a hospital lab bills it without insurance (Quest's own consumer store doesn't sell the stool test at all; its breath test is $200). Same CLIA-certified labs, physician-reviewed, no doctor's visit or referral needed.

### Is the stool antigen test cheaper than the urea breath test?

Not anymore — they're close. Both detect active infection with similar accuracy. The [H. pylori breath test](https://www.test-well.com/tests/h-pylori-breath-test-labcorp) is $129.99 at Quest but is administered in-lab, so it needs a brief visit; the stool antigen test is $149.99 with a sample kit you collect on your own schedule and drop at Quest. Pick by convenience: no in-lab time, choose stool; the lowest price, choose breath.

### Stool antigen, breath test, or blood test - which should I order?

Stool antigen and urea breath tests both detect active infection and are the guideline-recommended options for diagnosis and for confirming a cure. The blood antibody test only shows you were exposed at some point - it can stay positive for years after the bacteria are gone, so it cannot answer 'is it active now?'. Between the two active-infection options, the breath test is slightly cheaper at Quest but needs a brief in-lab visit; the stool test is a drop-off kit you can collect on your own schedule.

### Do I need to stop any medications first?

Yes, and this matters more than most prep rules: proton-pump inhibitors should be paused for about 2 weeks, and antibiotics or bismuth (Pepto-Bismol) for about 4 weeks before testing. All three suppress H. pylori enough to cause false negatives. Check with your provider before stopping any prescribed medication.

### I finished treatment - when should I retest?

Wait at least 4 weeks after your last antibiotic dose (and observe the 2-week PPI pause) before repeating the stool antigen test. Testing earlier risks a false negative from suppressed-but-not-eradicated bacteria. A negative retest at the right interval is how eradication is confirmed.

## How to order

1. Add to cart: https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=h-pylori-stool-antigen&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown
2. Create an account or sign in, confirm your state and preferred lab, pay by card, HSA or FSA.
3. A licensed physician authorizes the order (usually within minutes); the requisition arrives by email.
4. Walk into any Quest Diagnostics patient service center — no appointment needed at most sites.
5. Results post to your TestWell portal in 3–5 business days with reference ranges and flags.

## Related

- [H. pylori Testing: Stool Antigen vs Breath Test vs Blood Antibody](https://www.test-well.com/guides/h-pylori-testing)
- [H. pylori Breath Test](https://www.test-well.com/tests/h-pylori-breath-test-labcorp) — $129.99
- [All Digestive Health tests](https://www.test-well.com/tests/category/digestive-health)
- [Full test directory](https://www.test-well.com/tests/directory)

---

Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-09-14. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md

Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/tests/h-pylori-stool-antigen
Machine-readable catalog: https://www.test-well.com/api/catalog.json · MCP server: https://www.test-well.com/mcp · Overview for agents: https://www.test-well.com/llms.txt

Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.