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pH monitoring
Continuous pH monitoring records the pH (or level of acidity) over a prolonged period of up to 24 to 48 hours. An acid-sensitive catheter or probe is placed in the esophagus and transmits changes in esophageal pH to a small monitoring device. It provides information on the severity and pattern of reflux and correlates it with the patient's symptoms. The information is helpful both to confirm the diagnosis and to tailor therapy for the individual patient.
Continuous pH monitoring is considered the best test for the diagnosis of GERD. However, there is a 10 percent false-negative rate, meaning that the patient actually has GERD, but the test fails to find it. The results must, therefore, be interpreted in the context of the patient's symptoms.
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