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A rapid immunochromatographic assay for Helicobacter pylori in stool before and after treatment
Author(s) -
Gatta L.,
Perna F.,
Ricci C.,
Osborn J. F.,
Tampieri A.,
Bernabucci V.,
Miglioli M.,
Vaira D.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2004.02094.x
Subject(s) - medicine , helicobacter pylori , gold standard (test) , gastroenterology , endoscopy , helicobacter pylori infection , prospective cohort study
Summary Background : Current guidelines recommend non‐invasive testing and treatment of young dyspeptic patients without alarm symptoms. Aim : To evaluate the accuracy of a new rapid immunochromatographic stool test to diagnose Helicobacter pylori infection before and after treatment compared with a gold standard. Methods : Prospective, single‐blind study, performed in a tertiary care hospital. A total of 303 consecutive dyspeptic patients underwent endoscopy with multiple biopsies. Infected patients were offered a treatment and invited to come back 4–6 weeks after the end of therapy to repeat the endoscopy. Patients were also asked to provide a stool sample before and after therapy. Results : About 149 patients were H. pylori infected. The sensitivity and specificity before treatment were 91.3 and 93.5%; after treatment 92 and 100%. The likelihood ratios were robust enough to produce significant changes from pretest to post‐test probability both in pre‐treatment (LR+ = 14, LR− = 0.093) and post‐treatment (LR+ = 19.6, LR− = 0.095). Conclusions : The novel immunochromatographic stool test is fast, easy to perform and provides good differentiation between positive and negative results. It might become a rapid near patients test easily performed in the doctor office.