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Evaluation of the Ez‐HBT Helicobacter blood test to establish Helicobacter pylori eradication
Author(s) -
AHMED F.,
MURTHY U. K.,
CHEY W. D.,
TOSKES P. P.,
WAGNER D. A.
Publication year - 2005
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.1365-2036.2005.02655.x
Subject(s) - helicobacter pylori , medicine , helicobacter , test (biology) , helicobacter infections , spirillaceae , blood test , gastroenterology , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , gastritis , biology , paleontology
Summary Background : The urea blood test (Ez‐HBT) has been shown to compare favourably with the urea breath test in the diagnosis of active Helicobacter pylori infection. Aim : To examine the performance characteristics of the Ez‐HBT Helicobacter blood test in establishing success or failure of therapy in H. pylori ‐infected adults using the 13 C urea breath test as the reference method. Methods : 13 C urea breath test and Ez‐HBT Helicobacter blood test were performed 4–6 weeks after completion of treatment in H. pylori positive subjects. Basal urea breath samples were collected; basal Ez‐HBT Helicobacter blood test samples were not. Ez‐HBT Helicobacter blood test results were reported as positive, negative, or indeterminate. Results : Seventy patients generated 126 measurable sets of urea breath and blood tests. The H. pylori cure rate was 93%. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the Ez‐HBT Helicobacter blood test were 100%, 97%, and 97%, respectively. Six of eight false positive and indeterminate Ez‐HBT Helicobacter blood test results could be attributed to incomplete fasting or a 13 C enriched diet. After correcting for the non‐fasting state, the positive predictive value of the Ez‐HBT Helicobacter blood test improved from 56% to 86%. Conclusion : The performance characteristics of the Ez‐HBT Helicobacter blood test are comparable with that of 13 C‐urea breath test in establishing H. pylori eradication after therapy. Errors related to incomplete fasting can be mitigated by collection of a basal blood sample.