Acid perfusion test, also called the Bernstein test, is a mostly obsolete test done to reproduce the pain when the lower esophagus is irrigated with an acid solution in people with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).[1]
There will be a negative result in normal people, but a false positive reading may be seen in up to 15% of people.[2]
Bernstein test is simple and cheap but mostly obsolete nowadays. Esophageal pH monitoring is the gold standard for GERD. However, the initial management is with proton-pump inhibitors. If the symptoms of GERD persist, i.e. heartburn, hoarseness, chronic cough, then 24 hr pH monitoring should be considered.
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